India’s Jasprit Bumrah reacts as he is out bowled during play on the third day of the fifth cricket test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, in Sydney, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP

India were all out for 157 in the second innings, leaving Australia a victory target of 162 in the fifth and final Test here on Sunday.

Resuming day three at 141 for six, India lost their remaining four wickets for 16 runs.

Pat Cummins and Scott Boland shared the wickets in the session. Boland took six for 45 for the home side to claim a 10-wicket match haul, while Rishabh Pant’s 61 was the high score for India.

Brief Score:

India 1st innings: 185

Australia 1st innings: 181

India 2nd innings: 157 allout in 39.5 overs (Rishabh Pant 61, Scott Boland 6/45).

India’s Rishabh Pant bats during play on the second day of the fifth cricket test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, January 4, 2025
| Photo Credit: AP

Scott Boland took Nitish Reddy when he tried to hit the ball through mid-off. The effort went in vain when Nitish chipped the ball straight into Pat Cummins hands.

Rishabh Pant reached half-century in style, waging an aggressive attack against Australian bowlers, before he departs edging Cummins’ ball on Day 2 of the 5th India vs Australia Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday (January 4, 2025)

Debutant Webster got his first wicket as Alex Carey pouched the ball when Shubman Gill stepped out on a futile effort to heave it over the mid-wicket.

Also read: I have not retired, I just stood down from this Test because I am not in form, says Rohit Sharma

As a massive wicket, Scott Boland took Virat Kohli as his third, as the latter edged and left the crease. This could perhaps be Kohli’s last Test innings in Australia. The scoreboard read 59 for three after the dismissal.

After a quick start, India lost both of their openers K.L. Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, out to Boland, in the second innings, ending a promising partnership that was in the making.

Australia all out, as Mohammed Siraj castled Boland. Australia’s scoreboard read 181 for ten, trailing by a mere 4 runs.

Prasidh Krishna marked his third wicket of the match, by scalping Beau Webster, taking the ninth wicket of Australia.

Nitish Reddy got his second wicket, as he nailed Mitchell Starc. Pat Cummins was his first in this innings.

Virat Kohli took over the baton from skipper Jasprit Bumrah, as he marched back to the dressing room, perhaps due to an injury.

Despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, other Indian bowlers rose to the occasion as Nitish Kumar Reddy removed both Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc and Australia are at 164 for 8 still trailing by 21 runs.

As the match continued after the lunch, Prasidh Krishna castled Alex Carey, after a failed effort. When the game broke for lunch, Australia’s scoreboard read 101 for five wickets, trailing by 84 runs.

Prasidh dismissed an ominous Steve Smith, and the latter departed, leaving Australia with 95 runs for five wickets.

Travis Head walked back to the dressing room as Mohammed Siraj struck again to take a very crucial wicket of Australia. Sam Konstas edged Mohammed Siraj to loose a wicket for Australia in the game, to leave the team with 35 runs for three.

The star bowler of the series, Indian skipper Jasprit Bumrah did that again. He took the early wicket of Marnus Labuschagne, making things tight for Australia.

Day 1 report

Friday (January 3, 2025) dawned to the wet streaks of rain, just about enough to accentuate the green on leaves. When the dampness paused, it was time for cricket’s annual pilgrimage to the Sydney Cricket Ground.

India turned up with Jasprit Bumrah at the helm while Rohit Sharma, according to the former, opted to rest. A change in leadership, however, did not usher in a difference in the manner the visitors batted on a pitch that seemed more Perth and less Sydney.

There was movement and some bounce, and as the fifth Test’s opening day stretched, the template of wilting Indian batters against resurgent Australian pacers, was on view. At close, Australia scored nine for one in reply to India’s first innings score of 185. A fired up Bumrah, after a chat with Sam Konstas, dismissed Usman Khawaja.

In this file photo dated March 12, 2022, Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah celebrates the wicket of Sri Lankan batter Angelo Mathews during the 2nd Test cricket match between India and Sri Lanka. Bumrah has been nominated for the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Jasprit Bumrah’s incredible performance has prevented the Border-Gavaskar series from becoming completely lopsided in Australia’s favour, said pace great Glenn McGrath, lauding the India spearhead for his ball-control and ability to adapt quickly.

India trail 1-2 in the five-match series that will conclude with the game here starting Friday. Bumrah has been the visiting side’s standout performer with 30 wickets so far at a jaw-dropping average of less than 20. India’s batting, however, has been poor and lacked planning.

“He has been a massive part of the Indian team and without him, the series might have been more one-sided and what he does is special,” McGrath told media-persons on the sidelines of his foundation’s cancer awareness event here.

The 54-year-old, who was among the most consistent and dreaded pacers of his era, has been actively involved in cancer awareness programmes after losing his wife Jane to the disease back in 2008.

He has been following the ongoing series and much like the rest of Australia, he too is bowled over by the Gujarat slinger’s amazing skill-set.

“Terrific young guy who has found a way to adapt. Absolutely incredible how he powers into bowl the last few steps,” McGrath said of Bumrah’s short run-up.

The man with 563 Test wickets also found eerie similarities between him and the Indian in terms of hyper-extension of their arms (when the elbow joint bends backward beyond its normal range).

He said it allows them to land the ball a few inches further.

“Got a little bit of hyper extension which I used to have as well. He is coping with it, he has incredible control both ways, guess they are managing him well. I am a massive fan of Jasprit,” said the lanky former bowler, who was nicknamed ‘Pigeon’ by his teammates for his thin legs.

Having worked at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, McGrath is impressed with the talent pool in India and said one of his wards, Prasidh Krishna, has a bright future.

“India, with 1.4 billion people, have absolute passion for the game of cricket. Working with MRF Pace Foundation for the last 12 years, we have Prasidh Krishna, who is in the squad.

“He is a good young bowler and I think, they will have a good career ahead of him. There’s no shortage of players and [it is] not just the bowlers but also batters like Yashasvi Jaiswal.

“What’s good about these young players is they are fearless. We have got Sam Konstas who is similar.”

McGrath was also glad to see that Test cricket is well and truly alive given that record crowds showed up to watch the fourth Test in Melbourne.

“The cricket that was played in Melbourne was amazing and it lasted all five days with Australia getting over the line in the final session and 370,000 fans turning up has been absolutely incredible, because Test cricket is still the ultimate.

“We need to look after [it] but the Boxing Day Test tells me that Test cricket is alive and hopefully, we will see something similar over here,” he said.

He is also confident that Mitchell Starc will be fit and available for the final Test here. But will Australia risk him? “It also depends on the state of the Test series and it is a massive game. Australia haven’t beaten India in the last two [Border-Gavaskar] series and that is unheard of.”

“This is a massive Test. Guess it will be upto Mitch and he will do anything possible to play the match.”