Australia and India have been battling it out on the cricket field since 1947 when Don Bradman (715 runs at 178.75) and Ray Lindwall (18 wickets at 16.88) led Australia to a 4-0 victory.
Over 111 Tests, Australia have won 47, India 33 with 30 draws and one tie. India’s series victories in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21 shifted the balance of power but Australia’s famous victory at the MCG may signal a new era of dominance.
Regardless of how the next five days play out, both proud nations can set aside their rivalry and declare the cliche as rolled gold truth: Test cricket has been the big winner.
Preamble
Angus Fontaine
G’day cricket fans and welcome to the Sydney Cricket Ground for the Guardian’s over-by-over coverage of the fifth Test between Australia and India. Angus Fontaine here with you for the opening salvos before James Wallace steers you home.
After their thrilling victory in Melbourne – a Test witnessed by the largest cricket crowd in Australian history – Pat Cummins’ men lead the series 2-1 and now need only a draw to get their hands on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014-15. For India, only an SCG victory can secure the Trophy for a fifth consecutive time.
This 2024-25 series was billed as cricket’s heavyweight title fight and that hype has borne out. Both sides have thrown incredible punches, looking for the knockout blow. India won the opening round, with a commanding 295-run win in Perth. Australia hit back in Adelaide, triumphing by 10 wickets. The third Test at a rainy Gabba was drawn before Australia broke the deadlock in that fourth Test thriller at the MCG.
All four Tests have delivered extraordinary cricket, feats of individual brilliance and moments of high drama. Sydney should be no different. Both squads enter with new-look lineups. Australia has dropped the misfiring Mitchell Marsh and Tasmanian allrounder Beau Webster will make his Test debut. And sensationally, India will reportedly enter this final Test without their captain Rohit Sharma!
Play is scheduled to start at 10.30am AEST and we’ll have final teams and the coin toss shortly. Brew yourselves a cuppa and get some fuel on board. Today is gonna be BIG.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has called for a unified response to action against Afghanistan amid calls for the England men's team to boycott next month'
Travis Head has had the last laugh as he delivered a not-so-subtle swipe at Indian fans in the midst of Australia’s Border-Gavaskar series victory celebration
