Captain Pat Cummins has declared Australia’s classic 184-run win against India at the MCG the best Test he has been involved in.
Australia went 2-1 up in the Border-Gavaskar series after taking seven wickets in the final session of a thrilling Boxing Day Test.
In front of a record overall attendance for a Test in Australia of 373,691, the hosts had to get past India’s defiant star opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (84 from 208), who was dramatically dismissed by Cummins.
Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon (2-39), who has struggled during this series, took the final wicket with 39 minutes left and 12 overs remaining to seal an extraordinary win.
Cummins compared this epic win to the opening match of last year’s Ashes when he was central in Australia chasing down 281.
“Everyone as we were walking off, trying to work out where it sits,” said Cummins, who was awarded the Johnny Mullagh medal for player of the match after making key scores of 49 and 41 and taking six wickets.
“I reckon that’s right at the top.
“Edgbaston (2023) was pretty special and I reckon that’s pretty much on par. That was amazing.”
But for all the drama, momentum shifts and the epic crowd, Cummins believes it was “the best Test match I’ve been involved in”.
India looked set to hold on for a draw when they went to tea at 3-112, but Cummins (3-28), Scott Boland (3-39), Lyon, and even Travis Head (1-14), contributed with the ball in the final session to cause a collapse of 7-33.
Australia will regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the first time since 2014-15 if they win or draw the series decider at the SCG, starting on Friday.
Victory for India and a series drawn 2-2 would allow the tourists to retain the trophy, emerging with the spoils for a record-extending fifth-straight time.
It will be the first time a Test series in Australia heads to its finale with a trophy up for grabs since India toured here in 2003-04.
Set an MCG run chase record of 340, India effectively ruled themselves out of winning the fourth Test by going at a run rate of just two per over for most of their second innings on Monday.
Jaiswal, one of cricket’s brightest talents, followed his 82 in the first innings with a knock that threatened to go down in Indian folklore.
The 23-year-old was fortunate to survive an lbw appeal from Mitchell Starc on 31 when the beneficiary of a contentious umpire’s call.
But Jaiswal’s luck ran out when he tried to hook Cummins and a not-out on-field decision was overturned on review.
Jaiswal had a heated discussion with the on-field umpires after “snicko” revealed no clear noise. However, footage clearly showed a deflection of his glove.
Right from morning one on Boxing Day – when teenage debutant Sam Konstas smashed an audacious 60 that stunned India and their superstar quick Jasprit Bumrah – this was a Test that had everything.
Bumrah yet again carried India on his shoulders with nine wickets for the match, forcing Australia into rare tactics to contain his brilliance.
The 31-year-old, who took his 200th Test wicket at an average lower than any bowler in history, has 30 scalps for the series.
Emering allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy scored an emotional maiden Test century in India’s first-innings fightback, but Australia had more contributors.
Steve Smith looked to have returned to his best, completing centuries in back-to-back Tests with a sublime 140 in the first innings.
No.3 Marnus Labuschagne, who has faced pressure to keep his spot this summer, made 72 and 70, while MCG hero Scott Boland took six wickets for the match.
But it was Cummins’ spectacular all-round effort and his assured leadership that earned him the Mullagh medal.
Starc (1-25) struggled with sore ribs since day-three, but bravely bowled on to help Australia win.
“He’s a warrior,” Cummins said of his long-time pace partner.
“His pace didn’t drop off. He never even contemplates not being an option to bowl.
“Other being in pain, he’s fully fit and available.”
Indian superstar Virat Kohli had a nightmare week in Melbourne; fined for a day-one shoulder bump on Konstas, involved in a dramatic day-two run-out with Jaiswal, and out for just five in the second innings.
Pressure continues to mount on Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who has made just 31 runs at an average of 6.20 this series.
