Australia did not need to win, and India never really thought seriously about doing so. A curiously muted final day of the Boxing Day Test petered out with four overs still to bowl; on recent evidence more than enough time to winkle out the visitors’ last four wickets. A draw was enough for Australia to
A flat drop-in pitch. Possible rain. Brazen Indian batsmen. A brittle touring tail. Reverse swing. An extended day’s play. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy not quite secured. A new captain and an older coach. A commitment to entertain. These were just a few of the variables for Australia after four days of the Boxing Day Test at
Steven Smith started this series in form but out of the side. Matthew Wade started it out of form but in the side. Together, they set up a series victory by plotting one of Australia’s most remarkable one-day international chases, in front of one of the MCG’s most remarkably small international crowds. Smith’s 104 was
Alyssa Healy made an unbeaten 25 off 12 to pull Australia home with one ball to spare in the third women’s T20 international against West Indies in Melbourne. Australia wrapped up the series 3-0 with one match remaining as captain Meg Lanning led the chase of 150 with a 35-ball 51. Elyse Villani contributed 28