Although skipper Pat Cummins acknowledged that the team deployed him in part to increase the over rate, Travis Head, who has shattered Indian hearts with his bat on a few occasions, took the wicket at the MCG, paving the way for Australia’s thrilling final-session push.
When India started the session just three runs behind, Head and Nathan Lyon rushed through their overs after tea. Head caught Rishabh Pant off a long hop that he dragged to wide long-on. Early in the last hour of day five, Australia secured victory by taking seven wickets in 21 overs.
Defending champions Australia, who suffered the consequences of slow over rates in the first cycle, were behind for the whole of the match. Slow over rates can result in points deductions in the World Test Championship [WTC]. Whether they had caught up by the end of the game has not yet been verified. With a win in Sydney, Australia may guarantee their place in the WTC final at Lord’s, where they are hoping to join South Africa.
“He’s got a bit of a Midas touch,” Cummins remarked at the presentation on Head’s bowling. “I’ll give the coach credit for bringing him on in that particular instance. We also believed that if we got Trav in there, he may make a breakthrough and assist us with some overs because we were lagging a little behind on the over rate.”
When questioned about his main contribution, Head mentioned his poor batting performance in this Test, when he made 0 and 1 after scoring hundreds in Adelaide and Brisbane.
He told the host broadcaster, “I thought I’d watch the boys bat this week, but I didn’t feature, and I’ve had four-and-a-half days off.” “And it’s good to help. We know what we have to do, we don’t alter much, and we’re a really laid-back group. We were able to go out and carry out the ideas once Pat and Ronnie [head coach Andrew McDonald] came up with them and spoke with each other.
“Over the course of the five days, the Test fluctuated and was arguably one of the finest Test matches I’ve ever participated in. Both teams gave it their best shot, regardless of the outcome. It’s good that we were able to win even though there were times when both teams contributed and others when they battled. Five days have been a long one.
Head made a joke when questioned about intentions for Pant in particular. “Have everyone on the fence and bowl a rank [long hop].” I simply dropped them down there and watched to see whether things worked out in our favor.
Starc’s brilliant bowling bowled out Virat Kohli on the last day, and Cummins was certain that he would be fit for the last Test.
Cummins remarked, “I’m pretty confident he’ll be fine,” “In a few days, we will reevaluate. He’s dealing with a few hurting spots, mostly one on his ribcage or something. However, he is a fighter; he goes through, doesn’t slow down, and didn’t even consider not being able to bowl.
If Starc is incorrect, selectors would consider Jhye Richardson for a recall. To play for the Perth Scorchers against the Adelaide Strikers on New Year’s Eve, the squad released Richardson—who played his final Test match in the 2021–22 Ashes—on Monday. He will then rejoin the team in Sydney on Wednesday.
In the meanwhile, Marsh has taken three wickets at 46.33 and scored 73 runs at 10.42 in the four Test matches, all of which have taken place in Perth. The selectors have included Beau Webster, an uncapped all-rounder, in the team in case they decide to make a change.
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