India Makes Statement With Series Win Over Australia

Australia batter Sam Smith suggested his team’s series in India was a bigger test than their Ashes campaign with old rivals England later this year. The experienced player might well have been correct, as his side ran out second best against a strong India side in the subcontinent and must now dust themselves down before heading to the UK.

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India Secure Place In World Test Championship Final

A 2-1 series win for India on home soil once again highlighted they are among the heavyweights of the Test game. Australia, who as of 14th March is 6/5 to win the Ashes this year, failed to cope with the Indian bowling attack through most of the series. The final Test in Ahmedabad ended in a stalemate to ensure India claimed a deserved series victory over the Baggy Greens. The hosts got off to a tremendous start in the first Test, winning by 132 runs. Australia only managed totals of 177 and 91 in their two innings, as the visitors struggled to cope with the conditions and the quality of the impressive Indian bowling at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.

A six-wicket victory in the second Test ensured India could not lose the series before Australia rallied in the third match to give the tourists some hope of saving the series going into the final contest. India held to that draw in the fourth Test in Ahmedabad and, following Sri Lanka’s defeat at the hands of New Zealand, secured their place in the World Test Championship final along with winning the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the fourth consecutive time.

It will be Australia who they face at The Oval in London between 7th-11th June to decide the winner of the World Test Championship this year. India will be able to throw everything they have into that contest, while Australia will undoubtedly have one eye on their Ashes series with England, which starts the week after.

Smith Knew The Scale Of The Challenge

While perhaps trying to ruffle some feathers in the England camp ahead of the Ashes this year, Australia talisman Smith did suggest trying to secure a series win in India was tougher than facing their old rivals. Australia had managed just one Test win in their previous four tours of India to the one this year, so there was plenty of merit to what Smith suggested. The Aussies were the top-ranked side in the Test standings going into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series but ultimately finished second best to an India side that will take great confidence for their performances going forward.

Smith was not the only one in the Australia camp to talk up the size of the challenge of facing India on their own patch. Fellow veteran David Warner echoed Smith’s sentiments and stated that, while he does enjoy the rivalry of the Ashes, winning a Test series in India is the “toughest challenge”.

As Australia finished the four-match series in defeat and looked at how to improve their shortcomings before facing India once again at The Oval in June. The Baggy Greens left a lot to be desired when it came to batting in hand and that is an area they will look to address ahead of their Ashes series in England.

As for India, after the draw in the fourth match, skipper Rohit Sharma and his team have put themselves on the path to becoming the top-ranked Test side in the world once again. Playing with confidence and quality they proved too good at times for Australia and the focus will be on getting their preparation right for a one-off showdown with the Baggy Greens in the World Test Championship final.

With the likes of Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, there are batters in this India side that can take a Test match away from any opponent in the world. Meanwhile, the bowling attack, which includes Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami, is one to be admired.

It really was a statement win for India to continue their success against the number one ranked Test side in the world in Australia and it looks like there are even more exciting times ahead for skipper Sharma and his team.