Australia will savour one of its greatest Test wins before quickly turning attention to lifting the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the first time in a decade.
After completing a stunning Boxing Day Test win against India late on day five, Australia has just three days off before the series finale begins at the SCG.
Australia will regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the first time since 2014-15 if they win or draw the New Year’s Test in Sydney.
Victory for India and a series drawn 2-2 would allow the tourists to retain the trophy, emerging with the spoils for a record-extending fifth-straight time.
It will be the first time a Test series in Australia headed to the usual SCG finale with a trophy up for grabs since India toured here in 2003-04.
Declaring it equal with last year’s Edgbaston Ashes match as the best Test win he’s been involved in, Cummins told his teammates to enjoy the 184-run win at the MCG first.
“You work so hard over five days to win a Test match like this,” Cummins said.
“We’ll savour this for a couple of hours at least, and then it’ll be recovery for the next few days.
“I’m sure the batters will have a hit, and the bowlers, I dare say, will be very light on.”
If Australia can lift the trophy in Sydney, it would be the first time since the 1997 Ashes they have recovered from a 0-1 deficit to win a Test series.
It would mark a dramatic turnaround after they were embarrassed by India in Perth to kick off this blockbuster five-Test battle.
A win at the SCG would book Australia’s spot in a second-straight World Test Championship final, after they beat India in the 2023 decider.
South Africa became the first team to qualify for the WTC decider at Lord’s next year, by winning a dramatic match at home against Pakistan on Sunday.
Selection questions for Australia
Despite securing what will be remembered as a famous victory at the MCG, Australia faces selection issues before the fifth Test.
Star quick Mitchell Starc (1-25) struggled with sore ribs in Melbourne after day three, but bravely bowled on to help Australia win.
Cummins is confident Starc will be fit to play in Sydney, but the short break, his sore ribs, and bowling 41 overs at the MCG will be discussed.
All-rounder Mitch Marsh has endured a difficult series with the bat, making just 73 runs at 10.42.
Marsh dealt with a sore back in Perth that affected his bowling and has not taken a wicket since then from a combined 16 overs in four Tests.
In-form all-rounder Beau Webster is in the squad and patiently awaits a debut.
But it would be a big call to effectively end the Test career of Marsh, a popular team member and the reigning Allan Border medallist, with the series on the line.
India is dealing with selection headaches of its own after dropping number three Shubman Gill and slotting out-of-form captain Rohit Sharma back up to open — for returns of three and nine.
AAP
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