Five reasons Australia are looking more dangerous than ever for the Ashes

Australia swept to victory in the thrilling final test of a blockbuster series against India to secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade.

Australia came from behind to win a mighty series 3-1, holding their nerve to triumph in a low-scoring final test on Sunday by six wickets on a spicy Sydney pitch. In doing so, Australia secured their spot in the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s in June.

Scott Boland was the hero, picking up match figures of 10 for 76, before an unbroken stand of 58 from Travis Head and debutant Beau Webster helped them haul down a target of 162 after a little wobble.

They were assisted by an injury to India’s captain and spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who was unable to add to his series haul of 32 wickets due to back spasms. Having carried India’s attack throughout the series, Bumrah was still named player of the series.

Bumrah had inspired India to victory in the series opener at Perth before Australia dominated the next three tests, steamrolling India in Adelaide, being denied by rain in Brisbane, and winning a classic in Melbourne in the final session. The fifth test was nip and tuck, until the third day, when India lost their final four wickets for 10. Defending a small target was always going to be tough without Bumrah.

Australia rallied impressively, a concern for England, with the Ashes 10 months away. Here’s why:

Konstas provides Bazball awakening

Australians have taken great delight in sneering at England’s uber-attacking approach – until one of their own took it even further. The introduction of Sam Konstas, the teenage Sydneysider, for the fourth test helped turn the series with his audacious approach, but also gave balance to their batting order by replacing David Warner’s aggressive instincts.

Previously, it had been left to Travis Head to attack while the likes of Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne ground away. But Konstas showed the benefit of taking on even the best bowlers, alleviating scoreboard pressure and forcing the opposition captain to find Plan B. In the chase of 162 in Sydney, he only made 22, but was dismissed in the fourth over with a quarter of the target knocked off.

Sam Konstas plays a shot on the third day of the fifth men's test match between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground. Photo / Photosport

Konstas will have to refine his approach, which at times was just glorified slogging. But he is clearly a talent and what Australia need.

Smith relocates his mojo

Steve Smith ended this series by falling twice in the nervous 9990s, so until the Sri Lanka tour next month, he will be agonisingly stranded one short of 10,000 test runs. He is unlikely to mind much, though, as he relocated his mojo in this series with fabulous, contrasting hundreds in Brisbane and Melbourne. By returning to his exaggerated, unique approach, he looked back to his best, a stark contrast to Khawaja and Labuschagne.

Smith had been in such a funk, by his standards, that some wondered if he would suddenly retire. Surely he now delays that until Sydney next year, for one more tilt at his favourite opponents.

The Boland factor

Boland burst on to the scene against England three years ago, taking six for seven at his home ground, the MCG, on debut. Since then he has had to settle for a bit-part role, filling in when one of the big dogs is injured (which, in Josh Hazlewood’s case, has been quite often).

With one notable exception, Boland has been outstanding every time he has got his chance. England took him to the cleaners in the 2023 Ashes, when he took two wickets (both Zak Crawley) in two matches at an average of 115.5. Despite looking like the perfect bowler for English conditions, the hosts climbed into him.

Scott Boland celebrates the wicket of Virat Kohli during the fourth test international game between Australia and India on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Photo / Photosport

In Australia, that will be much more difficult. He has proved himself a magician with the Kookaburra ball on new, nibbly Australian wickets, because he finds just enough seam movement, and never misses his line or length. At home, he has 49 wickets at 12.6. In the course of his man-of-the-match 10-wicket haul in Sydney, Boland passed 2000 deliveries in tests, the threshold at which an average becomes “official” in the eyes of many statisticians. After 2141 balls, he has 57 wickets at 17.66, which is bettered only by seven men, the most recent of whom was Sydney Barnes, who debuted in 1901. Boland is a Victorian, but his bowling figures are from the Victorian era.

This gives Australia selection headaches. Even though Boland will be 36 by the Ashes, older even than any of the ageing “big three” of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Hazlewood, he gives them the chance to rotate their resources, even if no new faces (Spencer Johnson and Lance Morris look pacy) emerge this year.

Selection flexibility

At times, Australia’s test team has looked even more of a cosy boys club than England’s. Selector George Bailey is ensconced with the team – wearing a tracksuit, and even being part of training sessions – in a manner seldom seen before. He is mates with the players, and Australia have been reluctant to drop what they consider to be their best players, even through rough patches and as Father Time catches up fast.

In this series, though, they have exhibited a newfound ruthlessness. First, the experiment with Nathan McSweeney, the correct but staid middle-order square peg shoved into a round hole as opener, was shelved after three tests, with the series. Bailey admitted that they had got one wrong, and it paid off.

Then Mitch Marsh, a divisive player with fans but the ultimate team man, was dropped for Sheffield Shield journeyman Webster in Sydney. He bowled important, tight overs, took fine catches and batted beautifully. Webster is unlikely to play many tests because Cameron Green will return, but showed he could be an outstanding stand-in.

What these selections showed, though, is Australia are unafraid to make big decisions. Before the Ashes, they have Sri Lanka, the WTC final and a trip to the West Indies, which might be seen as a nice time to play someone new. So if Khawaja or Labuschagne’s lean trots were to continue, the selection panel has the bite to make a tough call.

Getting the fans on-side

Believe it or not, this extremely successful Australia team have not always been entirely popular with their public, partly for the cosiness of the team, partly for their perceived “wokeness” and approach to social issues.

But this series has really got the nation on-side. This happened for a few reasons: the tightness and quality of the competition against a fine team, plus the finding of an enemy in India, and especially Mohammed Siraj and Virat Kohli, and new heroes of their own like Konstas and Webster.

England can expect an even rougher time from an engaged Australian public than India, because there is no cricketing rivalry quite like the Ashes…