June 12, 2023
Australia whacks India in ICC WTC Final
By Syed Rifaquat Ali
Invincible Aussies triumphantly won the ICC Test championship at the Oval against India inthe final last Sunday before a capacity crowd by a whopping 209 runs.
The English dailyThe Hindu aptly summed up the victory: India for all financial clout and hoo-ha around itscricket, lost yet as its underwhelming record in ICC tournaments continued with its 209-runhammering by Australia in the final.
In a way, it was a replicate of Pakistan's emphatic win against India in the ICC Champions Trophy final at the picturesque Oval ground in 2017.
Batting first, Australia struggled in the first session on the opening day, but in the secondsession, Steve Smith and Travis Head butchered the Indian bowling attack.
Travis Head played a blistering knock of 161, while Smith scored fluent century (122) to put Australiain commanding situation. On the second day, Australia were all out for 469 which was a challenging total to snarl India.
At close of play, India were 164 for 3, having lost informbatsmanViratKohli, key to Indian batting line-up. And on the third day, India were bundledout for 296.
Though Australia did not bat as in the first innings, skipper Cummins declared at 270for 8 in the second innings, setting a target of 444 for India to win. Apparently, it wasa herculean task for Indian batsmen on a pitch which had deteriorated considerably afterfour days of play.
All the three top order batsmen --Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and ChateshwarPujara ---were back in the hut, and it was left to Rahane and Kohli to take India
home, a Himalayan task indeed. At close of play, Indua were 164 for 3, needing 280 runs towin in 97 overs on the fifth day of the match.
ViratKohli, most accomplished batsman in the world today, succumbed soon to Boland who forced Kohli to edge one to the hawks inthe slip cordon and Steve Smith took a diving acrobatic catch, which revived memories ofthe iconic Springbok fielding genius of yesteryear Jhonty Rhodes. With Kohli gone, Rahanelooked uncomfortable against the Australian pace attack.
And he followed Kohli soon to perish, leaving India in a precarious situation. RavindraJadeja and Shardul Thakur, whoplayed fine knocks in the first innings, were both out for ducks and it was almost all overfor India. Tail endersUmeshYadav, Mohammad Shami and Siraj were all at sea to thelethal Australian bowling attack. India were thus all out for 234 in 63.3 overs.
And Australia won the match by 209 runs. With this win, Australia has won nine ICC tournaments, whileIndia has won five titles. India's defeat in this final will positively have bearings on the hometeam as the ICC World Cup is to be held in India this October.
Presently, the Indian team is facing scathing criticism at home for losing to Australia without putting up a fight. And theplayers are totally depressed. It will take some time for the players to overcome this trauma.
Syed RifaquatAli isJoA correspondent in Sydney
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