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England star’s crude text after Australia wins World Test Championship

Australia has the mace after tearing the hearts out of India in the World Test Championship final — and it got the attention of one star.

James McKernJames McKern
@jLmcKern
5 min read
June 12, 2023 - 6:26AM
'First Kohli, now Jadeja!': Aussies erupt

Australia are the kings of the Test arena after proving too strong for India in the World Test Championship Final.

And every good king needs a mace.

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The trophy handed to Aussie skipper Pat Cummins after his side completed a 209-run win was certainly eye-catching.

It got the attention of England women’s star Alexandra Hartley.

The Aussies entered the final day of play needing to take seven wickets while India sat 280 runs shy of glory.

After a hesitant start from both it was Victorian cult hero Scott Boland who struck the key blow when he removed Indian superstar Virat Kohli.

Kohli was crucial to India’s hopes on the day with Steve Smith producing some brilliance in the slips to snare his wicket.

Boland, like he’s done in the past, wasn’t finished and struck only two balls later to send the dangerous Ravindra Jadeja on his way.

A 33-run stand gave India hope, but Mitchell Starc put an end to that when he claimed the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane. A wicket that all but put a pin in any hopes of India snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

The Aussies kept their foot on the gas and ultimately wrapped the contest up in the first session of the final day, claiming the win by 209 runs.

Nathan Lyon made the most of the faltering Indian line-up by claiming three wickets to finish with figures of 4/41 in the innings.

Travis Head was named player of the match after a scintillating 163 in the first innings as the Aussies cashed in on a flat wicket to score 469 runs.

The win means Australia have now swept up every major trophy on offer in cricket, becoming the first nation to capture the six big tournaments.

Australia’s sights will now turn to the opening Ashes Test which kicks off on Friday from Edgbaston at 8pm (AEST).

Test Kings. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP).
Test Kings. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP).

9.30pm - Lyon gets another

India have all but thrown in the towel with KS Bharat attempted to send Nathan Lyon into the 20th row.

The tactic backfired drastically as his slog sweep came off the top edge and went high into the air before coming down into Lyon’s hands.

9.20pm - Starc gets another, two wickets to go

Mitchell Starc has taken his second wicket with a vicious bouncer ending the innings of Umesh Yadav.

The nasty bouncer caught the hand of Yadav with Alex Carey at full stretch throwing his right glove high into the sky to reel in the catch.

It’s just a matter of time now before the Aussies wrap things up and claim the World Test Championship trophy.

9.05pm - Lyon gets in on the act

The Aussies have their tails well and truly up now with Nathan Lyon joining the party by trapping Shardul Thakur with a perfect delivery from around the wicket.

Thakur opted to send the decision upstairs but it was as plumb as you’re going to see with three red lights signalling a quick end for the fast bowler.

9pm - Starc removes the danger man

Ajinkya Rahane rebuilt the India run chase but a wide ball from Mitch Starc proved too tempting and he flashed the blade wide outside offstump.

The loose shot caught the edge of the bat and sailed into the gloves of Alex Carey as the Aussies moved increasingly closer to victory.

8.45pm - 200 runs on the board for India

Five wickets in hand, 244 runs left to go. The loss of Kohli really hurts, but there’s still plenty of play left in the day.

While Australia may currently be in the driver seat India are far from finished.

8.20pm - Australia burn second review

Less than an hour into the day’s play and Australia have lost their second review, leaving only one up their sleeve.

Scott Boland thumped one into the pads of Rahane with the ball darting back a considerable amount. The umpire turned the appeal down but Pat Cummins opted to send it upstairs.

The review showed the ball was going high over the stumps and would have missed leg stump.

8pm - Scott Boland strikes twice in one over

Name a more iconic duo than Scott Boland and taking multiple wickets in an over.

The start Australia had hoped for has come true with Virat Kohli walking back to the pavilion after a blinding Steve Smith catch at second slip.

A perfect delivery from Boland enticed Kohli into a drive only for the ball to deviate and fly off the outside edge.

Smith reacted in a flash as he dove to his right to take the stunner in both hands.

Boland struck once again only two balls later with another centimetre perfect delivery around the wicket to Ravindra Jadeja.

A tossed up ball saw Jadeja come forward on the front foot only to watch as the ball caught the edge and sailed safely into the gloves of Alex Carey.

7.45pm - Kohli survives early Boland attack

Scott Boland had one jag back in off a good length in a delivery that caught Virat Kohli off guard.

The Aussies went up in unison but the ball was always going to be sliding down the leg side in an early sign the pitch could be set to offer plenty for the Australian attack.

Ajinkya Rahane also escaped after Pat Cummins delivered a perfect bouncer. Rahane ducked too late out of the way with the ball catching the edge of his bat.

Unfortunately for Australia it landed in sage space before heading over the boundary rope for four runs.

7pm (AEST) - Fans fume over umpires questionable signal

Indian fans weren’t happy on day four with Cameron Green, but umpire Richard Illingworth also came under fire.

With the fourth innings underway the Aussies were pressing hard to remove as many wickets as possible before the day’s play wrapped up.

Nathan Lyon strolled in and thundered one into the pads of Ajinkya Rahane as the light began to fade around the ground.

Lyon turned on a dime on one knee and emphatically appealed for the LBW along with Steve Smith and Alex Carey.

Lyon received a signal not to review this appeal. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Lyon received a signal not to review this appeal. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Illingworth wasn’t having it, forcing the Aussies into a conversation and whether they’d send it upstairs.

It was then that Illingworth delivered a seemingly innocous signal before the DRS timer had run out. His motion let Lyon know the ball would have missed leg because of the sharp turn on the delivery.

Irate fans were left even angrier believing it has saved the Aussies from burning a review. Something that could come in handy entering the final day’s play.

Rahane will return to the crease alongside Kohli as they look to chase down the required 280 runs for victory.

7pm - Cheat claims levelled at Aussie star

Cameron Green came under heavy from India fans after his stunning catch to dismiss Shubman Gill was flashed on the big screen.

Chants of cheat rang out around the venue, but the ugly scenes spilled beyond the day’s play and onto social media.

A post of Green alongside his dog and partner was bombarded with hundreds of hateful comments.

The outrage erupted after replays of Green’s catch were shown on the big screen, leaving Indian fans furious Gill had been given out.

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The Aussie all-rounder dove to his left to clutch a chance created by Scott Boland early in the Indian innings.

The third umpire was asked to decide Gill’s fate and after countless replays which showed Green reaching the ball well before it hit the ground – and him getting at least one finger underneath the Duke – it was finally called a fair catch.

“If you look at not only (Green’s) instant reaction but also the fielders around him, there was no doubt that the fingers were under the ball,” James Brayshaw said in commentary for Channel 7.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/world-test-championship-final-fans-fume-over-umpires-questionable-signal/news-story/aa87350675b6b50c721deca6bc9b9d24