MCG victory on par with Edgbaston as Cummins looks ahead to SCG

By Jonathan Healy

Victorious Australia captain Pat Cummins believes his side's gripping victory over India in the Boxing Day Test is one of the most memorable triumphs of his career.

Australia had to wait right until the final hour on Day 5 to clinch the famous win over their arch-rival, with veteran spinner Nathan Lyon delivering the match-winning blow when he trapped Mohammed Siraj LBW much to the excitement of the massive crowd in attendance at the MCG.

It was memorable for Cummins on more than one account as it provides Australia with an excellent chance of winning back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and puts them in a great position to join South Africa in booking a place at next year's ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's.

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Given what was on the line, Cummins said the win was at least on par with Australia's famous Test triumph over England in Birmingham during the most recent Ashes series in 2023.

"Everyone was walking off (the ground) trying to work out where it sits and I reckon that's right at the top," a jubilant Cummins said after Australia's 184-run victory and being adjudged Player of the Match for his six wickets across the two innings and pair of scores in the 40s.

"Edgbaston was pretty special and I reckon that's pretty much on par. It was amazing."

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More than 74,000 people packed into the MCG on Monday to watch the momentum continue to swing during the final day of an epic fourth Test, with the crowd across the entire contest reaching a phenomenal figure of 373,691 which broke the record figure at the ground that was achieved against England across six days back in 1937.

And the crowd certainly got value for their attendance, with the fortunes of the match swinging wildly across the five days as both sides enjoyed periods of dominance in an enthralling battle that was comparable to a heavyweight boxing fight.

"When you take all that into account, it's probably the best Test match I've been involved in," Cummins suggested.

“There was about 80,000 (people) on the first three days and, I don’t know what the crowd was today, but it was huge.

"It felt like it (the match) swung a lot as well. It felt like we were so far ahead of the game that a win looked certain, so overall it was just one of those great wins."

And while Cummins suggested his team will rightfully celebrate the victory in style tonight, the captain would love nothing better than finishing the job in Sydney with another victory over India to re-claim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and clinch Australia's spot at next year's World Test Championship Final.

To do that the Aussies will need Mitchell Starc to be fit and firing in Sydney and although Cummins admitted the fast bowler was battling an ailment, he expects the experienced left-armer to be a certain starter for the final Test of the series that commences at the SCG on January 3.

"I'm pretty confident he will be fine," Cummins said of Starc.

"We will reassess it in a couple of days as he's managing a couple of sore bits. Mainly one sore bit on his ribs or something, but he's a warrior.

"He gets through it, his pace didn't drop off, he never even contemplates not being an option to bowl, so other than being in pain, he's fully fit and available."