The victory also means the hosts booked their spot in a second straight World Test Championship final where it will play the already-qualified South Africa at Lord’s in June.

By Nick Mulvenney SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia held their collective nerve to clinch a blockbuster five-test series against India 3-1 on Sunday and take custody of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade.

Credit: Albert Perez - CA/Cricket Australia via The festive season is over, but there is no need to be down about the prospect of normality returning. The final Test match in the series between Australia and India is here to brighten the moods of fans around the world.

Australia’s star batter of a generation Steve Smith fell just short of an illustrious career milestone and a Jasprit Bumrah-led India took the advantage on the second day of the fifth and final test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

By Nick Mulvenney SYDNEY (Reuters) -India dropped skipper Rohit Sharma but their top order batting woes continued as they struggled to 57 for three in the opening session of the fifth test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

The 50-over World Cup is far older and has been competed for since back in 1975. Australia are the record winners having run out victorious on five occasions (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015). England took the 2019 crown after a dramatic Ben Stokes-inspired super-over win over New Zealand at Lord's.

It was Test cricket from a different age on Day 1 of this final Test. The batters were hanging on for dear life, grinding it out and waiting for the rare loose deliveries, Australia's virtuoso pacers were relentless.