Australia have warmed up for the Ashes with a convincing 209-run victory over India to win the ICC World Test Championship.
After England made light work of Ireland last week, Australia faced a far sterner test in the form of India with the prize of the world's best team over the five-day format on offer.
However, the Baggy Greens dominated for much of the contest at the Oval, sealing the win on the final morning by taking India's final seven wickets.
Chasing what would have been a record-breaking 444, India begun Sunday's play on 164-3 with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane tasked with staying at the crease for the first hour.
The Mace is ours!
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) June 11, 2023
Congratulations to captain Pat Cummins and our men's national team on becoming World Test Champions 🏆 pic.twitter.com/LCTILuI6ja
Instead, Scott Boland dismissed Kohli for 49 with the score on 179-4, and wickets then fell at regular intervals as Australia showed a ruthless streak that they will wish to replicate against England.
Boland struck again two balls later to remove Ravindra Jadeja for a duck, with the writing on the wall once Rahane fell to Mitchell Starc for 46, reducing the score to 212-6.
The tail failed to wag for India, Nathan Lyon taking three of the final four wickets to finish with figures of 4-41, with only a brief counter-offensive from Mohammed Shami who scored 13 from eight balls delaying the inevitable before India were bowled out for 234.
While Australia are crowned World Test champions for the first time, significantly helped by Travis Head (163) and Steven Smith (121) in the first innings, India have now lost both finals, the first coming against New Zealand.
