The final day of the fourth and final Test of the series between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground (Sydney) has been washed out entirely. Though the Test ended with a draw result, it couldn’t stop India to create history as they are the first Asian side to win a Test series on the Australian soil.
There was no game on day 5 as the game was called off before the tea break. The game ended on Australia’s 6/0 in their following on innings where they were still trailing by 316 runs.
After winning the toss in this Test match, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli decided to bat first. While the new opening batsman Mayank Agarwal provided another good start with the 77 runs knock, the in-form Cheteshwar Pujara hit his third century in this Test series by scoring 193 runs off 373 balls (22 fours).
In the end part of that innings, the wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja had a giant 204-run partnership for the seventh wicket. While Pant scored his second Test century by remaining unbeaten on 159 runs off 189 balls (15 fours and only six), Jadeja scored 81 runs off 114 balls (7 fours and only six). After managing the giant total of 622/7, the Indian skipper decided to declare that innings.
Among the Aussie bowlers, the off-spinner Nathan Lyon (4/178) picked up four wickets, the right-arm pacer Josh Hazlewood (2/105) got two wickets and the left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc (1/123) claimed one wicket in that innings.
In reply, Australia’s first innings ended on 300 runs. While the opener Marcus Harris played the best knock on that innings of 79 runs off 120 balls (8 fours), Marnus Labuschagne (38 runs) and Peter Handscomb (37 runs) were the only other batsmen in that innings to reach the 30-run mark.
Among the Indian bowlers, the left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav had a bowling figure of 31.5-6-99-5. Also, the left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (2/73) and the right-arm pacer Mohammed Shami (2/58) bagged two wickets each while the other pacer Jasprit Bumrah (1/62) claimed the other wicket.
After achieving their first innings lead of 322 runs, India decided to enforce the follow-on. Australia finished the rain-interrupted game on 6/0 where both the openers Usman Khawaja (4*) and Marcus Harris (2*) remained not out.
Cheteshwar Pujara won the Player of the Match award as well as Player of the Series award after finishing as the leading run-scorer (521 runs) in this series.
India won the first Test of the series at Adelaide by 31 runs while the hosts levelled the series after winning the second Test by 146 runs at the new Perth stadium (Optus Stadium). India regained the lead of the series after winning the previous Test at Melbourne by 137 runs.
Here are some twitter reactions:
THANK YOU! 2-1 🇮🇳🇮🇳 #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/syKRSOgaWQ
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 7, 2019
India's win in Australia will inspire the next generation back home, a delighted Virat Kohli has said. #AUSvIND
➡️ https://t.co/y9kDCdA4UP pic.twitter.com/Qf0QtFhtJ2
— ICC (@ICC) January 7, 2019
Congratulations #TeamIndia for this memorable win. Every cricket lover in India will be very proud of this one and a special effort by every member in the Team to ensure this result. pic.twitter.com/GLUaQgLt4S
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 7, 2019
So proud to be a part of this team, great feeling! 😇 This is not just a team this is a family. 😊 Onwards and upwards from here on. 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 @BCCI pic.twitter.com/K0PKG8g3uK
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 7, 2019
A real proud moment for all of us! This win is special indeed! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/IoTJB3kydT
— ajinkyarahane88 (@ajinkyarahane88) January 7, 2019
They came. They conquered !!
History written and created by this bunch !!
Huge congratulations to all players, coaching unit and support staff ; (1/2) pic.twitter.com/lm3vnagjeb— Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) January 7, 2019
it takes undying perseverance & solid conviction to focus on what’s important and shut out the rest .🇮🇳🙏 So so happy and proud of you my love @imVkohli ❤ (2/2) pic.twitter.com/6O9y8ilYYy
— Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) January 7, 2019
Many congratulations #TeamIndia on this historic series win in Australia. It took a complete Team effort from every member of the side and it gives such an immense sense of satisfaction and joy to see what the boys have done on the field. Let’s cherish this special series win pic.twitter.com/QFj7oJg47i
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 7, 2019
History has been created!!!📰🇮🇳
First ever Test series win on Australian soil. It's such a proud moment to be a part of the winning side.This win will be cherished for a long long time.😁🔥🇮🇳#AusvsInd pic.twitter.com/xpqbxgEJc6— Jasprit bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) January 7, 2019
Sensational series win here for Team India. What a unit. @BCCI
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) January 7, 2019
When was the last time you did something for the first time? Historic 1st Test Series win for India in Australia! Superb effort by #TeamIndia ! It may have ended in rain but that’s not going to dampen the celebrations! Proud #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/xVN9OZtye5
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) January 7, 2019
Congratulations to India on a historic series win. Despite Smith & Warner’s absence winning in Australia is never easy. India were also without Shaw & Saha for the whole series, Ashwin for three Tests, Hardik for two & Jadeja & Ishant for one. A mighty achievement. #AUSvIND
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) January 7, 2019
Proud of you guys🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳..Well done Team India for winning the test series in Australia.. congratulations @cheteshwar1 for winning MOS u been a backbone of indian batting line up.. keep it up 🔥🏏@BCCI bowling wise @Jaspritbumrah93 has been phenomenal..love ur work ⭐️💪
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) January 7, 2019
Congratulations India on a stupendous victory. It’s a big day for us as sporting nation. For once,let’s not debate or dissect the impact of absence of Warner/Smith, let’s just savour the moment and be proud. Let’s be together on this one at least! @BCCI @SPNSportsIndia #INDvAUS
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) January 7, 2019
After getting hammered ruthlessly for years, finally a series victory in the Australian soil…This is emotional…Special victory…..*tears in my eyes*…#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/E0zmMtJyjn
— Mahadevan (@PingMahadevan) January 7, 2019
Since I began following Cricket closely,
1999 – disaster
2003 – close
2007 – controversial
2011 – humiliating
2014 – One bad session2019 – a childhood dream comes true. A series win Down Under. What a feeling! What a time to be an Indian Cricket Fan! #AUSVIND pic.twitter.com/nx1dCUHLlA
— Arjun Ashok (@arj_90) January 7, 2019
When Dev Anand walk became Pujara dance. #AUSvIND #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/lxEttkAtn8
— Goan Patiala (@TheGoanPatiala) January 7, 2019
India will join England, West Indies, New Zealand and South Africa to become the fifth visiting side to win a Test series in Australia!#AusvInd#AusvsInd
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 7, 2019
