<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>336150</docID> <postdate>2025-01-05 15:25:24</postdate> <headline>Australia beat India to claim Border-Gavaskar Trophy</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-336151" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250105149012844155-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Impressive debutant Beau Webster celebrates hitting the winning runs in the fifth Test at the SCG. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Jasper Bruce</strong> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>Australia have reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade after a pulsating six-wicket defeat of India in the decisive fifth Test at the SCG.</strong></p> <p>Chasing 162 runs for a day-three victory on a tough deck, Australia wobbled early during a collapse of 3-19 before Usman Khawaja (41), Travis Head (34no) and Beau Webster (39no) put the chase to bed.</p> <p>For the Australian team, a series win over India had been regarded as the final frontier, with mainstays Pat Cummins, Alex Carey, Khawaja and Head among those never to have previously held the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in their impressive careers.</p> <p>"Unreal. This was one a few of us didn't have," Cummins said.</p> <p>"It's been an amazing series. It's one of those that's been in the calendar for a fair while, always got an eye on it for the last year or two.</p> <p>"It's really It's lived up to all the hype.</p> <p>The trophy had appeared a pipe dream after a 295-run loss in the series opener in Perth, but only inclement weather in Brisbane prevented Australia from claiming wins in all four of the Test matches that followed.</p> <p>But all Australia's good work threatened to come unstuck with a loss at the SCG, where defeat would have tied the series at 2-2 and kept the trophy in India's hands for a fifth consecutive series.</p> <p>"Immensely proud of that," Cummins said.</p> <p>"We spend a lot of time together. The group over the years, so we knew we weren't at our best in Perth.</p> <p>"It was never as bad as it seems. You stick tight, double down on what makes us a really good side."</p> <p>In reply to India's second innings of 157, Australian openers Sam Konstas (22) and Khawaja put on 39 in the first 23 balls before quick Prasidh Krishna (3-27) spearheaded India's fightback and left the hosts in jeopardy at 3-58.</p> <p>Khawaja showed positive intent after lunch, punishing both Prasidh and Mohammad Siraj as India's superstar quick Jasprit Bumrah watched from the pavilion with a back issue.</p> <p>But India would have felt renewed confidence when the veteran nicked to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant from Siraj's bowling just short of his second half-century of a quiet series.</p> <p>From there, allrounder Webster continued a great Test debut by forging a game-winning 58-run partnership with serial swashbuckler Head.</p> <p>Webster hit the winning runs down the ground a little more than an hour after the lunch break, Australia finishing at 4-162.</p> <p>The win confirms Australia's spot in the World Test Championship final, to be played against South Africa at Lord's in June.</p> <p>During a dramatic two-and-a-half days of cricket in Sydney, Rohit Sharma was axed as Indian captain, Sam Konstas continued to rile the tourists, India's best player Bumrah suffered a game-ending back injury and Steve Smith came up one run shy of 10,000 for his Test career.</p> <p>Through it all, back-up paceman Scott Boland stood tallest, returning the best match figures of his first-class career (10-76) and his two best innings (4-31 and 6-45) since his dream Test debut at the MCG three summers ago.</p> <p>Boland dispatched Siraj and Bumrah to complete his six-wicket haul and help skittle India (185, 157) within 45 minutes of Sunday's restart.</p> <p>The Australian batting order (181, 4-162) sealed the result in reply to secure the 3-1 series win.</p> </body>