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The 10 moments that won Australia the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

7 0
06.01.2025

The group of Australian players who stood proudly on the SCG turf with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Sunday afternoon had dreamed of dominating India for ten years.

Not since the summer of 2014-15, when Steve Smith plundered 769 runs at an average of 128.1, have Australia beaten India in a Test series at home or away.

Australia’s 3-1 triumph featured valuable contributions from batsmen and bowlers at important times.

A heavy defeat in the first Test in Perth didn’t derail their campaign, with Pat Cummins’ calm and mature group cricketers regrouping to win in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. A bit less rain in Brisbane and Australia could easily have won at the Gabba too.

We take a look at the 10 pivotal moments (in chronological order) that helped Australia regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Australia players celebrate their series win at the SCG.Credit: Getty Images

After a brutal 295-run loss in Perth, Australia had 10 days of soul-searching. Several former players criticised the squad, questioning some batsmen in the top order while suggesting there was disharmony in the ranks.

Then, with one beautiful delivery, Mitchell Starc changed the narrative.

Indian young gun Yashasvi Jaiswal had sledged Starc in Perth for bowling too slowly. With his first delivery in Adelaide, Australia’s left-arm quick sent down a ball that crashed into Jaiswal’s pad. It looked to be sliding down leg side, but swung back and would have smashed leg stump. Jaiswal was gone for a golden duck.

It set the tone for the match, as Starc took 6-48 from 14.1 overs in the first innings to help Australia bowl India out for 180.

Mitchell Starc removes Yashasvi Jaiswal for a golden duck in Adelaide. Credit: Getty Images

Coming in at 3-103 in the first innings at Adelaide, with Australia still trailing by 77 runs, Head proceeded to make arguably the best century of the........

© Brisbane Times