Australia top the WTC25 Standings with a win in Adelaide
A 10-wicket victory in Adelaide has helped Australia to level the five-match series 1-1 and go to the top of the ICC World Test Championship Standings.
Australia v India, 2nd Test, Scorecard
Beginning the Day at 128/5, it was imperative for India to hold on. However, the hosts did not let them linger for long. Mitchell Starc struck early to remove Rishabh Pant on his overnight score of 28.
Three overs later, Pat Cummins came in to dismiss Ravichandran Ashwin, who went to hook a bouncer and gloved one straight to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
India could add only 47 runs to their overnight total and folded by 175 with just an 18-run lead. Cummins was the pick of the bowlers in the second innings, registering his 13th five-wicket haul in Tests.
It did not take long for Australia openers to scores the required 19 runs as the hosts secured a big 10-wicket victory, with the match finishing in less than two hours on Day 3. It was the shortest Test between Australia and India in terms of balls, with just 1031 balls being bowled in the entire match.
ICC World Test Championship 2025 Standings
World Test Championship - State of Play ahead of 2025 final
Shortest Tests between India and Australia (by balls)
Match | Balls bowled |
Adelaide, 2024 | 1031 |
Indore, 2023 | 1135 |
Perth (WAC), 2012 | 1200 |
Mumbai, 2004 | 1213 |
Adelaide, 2020 | 1246 |
This is also Australia's eighth win day/night Tests in Adelaide, making it eight out of eight at the venue. Overall, they have won 12 day/night Tests out of 13.
For Rohit Sharma, this was his fourth successive defeat as India's Test captain.
Game over! Australia level the series 💪#AUSvIND | #PlayOfTheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/7djgXWBfg7
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 8, 2024
Day 1 recap - Starc decimates India
Buoyant from their success in Perth, India came into the second Test with a strong side. Regular captain Rohit Sharma had returned, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was included and young Shubman Gill came in to bolster the batting.
However, the happiness was short-lived as India's good fortune ran out as soon as they came to bat. Mitchell Starc struck on the very first ball of the day and removed the dangerous Yashasvi Jaiswal.
It was a blow that India never recovered from and despite useful contributions from KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. A small cameo from Nitish Kumar Reddy gave them hope but it was nothing in front of the brilliance that Starc produced throughout the day as the visitors were bowled out for just 180 runs in the first innings.
Starc secured a six-for, his career-best Test innings figures of 6/48.
Day 2 recap - Head puts Australia in the driver's seat
In reply, Australia got off to a measured start. They lost Usman Khawaja on Day 1 and Nathan McSweeney and Steve Smith fell early on Day 2 but it did not dent the hosts' confidence.
Marnus Labuschagne, who was struggling to score all year, dropped anchor and along with Travis Head hit back. While Labuschagne provided the support, Head went about his usual aggressive business.
The Indian bowlers could do nothing but watch as Head smashed all over the ground. Even after Labuschagne (64) got out, Head combined with Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey to carry Australia forward. He was eventually dismissed on140 but not before taking the hosts past the 300-run mark. They eventually ended up scoring 337 runs, getting a handy 157-run lead.
India's batting left a lot to be desired in their second innings as well as the top order collapsed once again. India had already lost half their side by end of Day 2.