Australia closes off India in fine style for WTC trophy

(ICC) - Australia are World Test Champions after completing a 209-run win over India in the WTC Final at The Oval.

Superb first-innings centuries from Travis Head and Steve Smith gave Australia control of the Test early on, but India responded well to force the match to a fifth day, falling short of what would have been an all-time record chase to win a Test as they were bowled out for 234.

Scott Boland got the ball rolling with two early dismissals in the day, with Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc also among the wickets as Australia rattled through India to win the World Test Championship title.

Australia was the dominant team during the WTC cycle, finishing top of the standings to qualify for the showpiece final against India, thanks to 11 wins from 19 matches.

Nathan Lyon ended this Test Championship campaign as the world’s highest wicket-taker.

And four of the top six run-scorers in the WTC cycle were Australian, with only Joe Root scoring more than Usman Khawaja (1621) and Marnus Labuschagne (1576), and the first innings heroes Head and Smith scoring 1407 and 1389 runs respectively in the Championship.

India and Australia stars, including Virat Kohli and Pat Cummins in a tribute to redball cricket ahead of the ICC World Test Championship Final

India’s strong finish to their campaign saw them bag the second spot in the standings, and qualify for the final against Australia in south London.

But defeat means that India have now lost each of the two WTC Finals to have been held since the conception of the tournament.

India batter Virat Kohli has been a fan favourite throughout his illustrious career, and reveals the impact crowds can have on all players during the ICC World Test Championship Final.

Day Five of this 2023 Final had resumed with all results still possible, with Australia requiring seven wickets to win, and India needing 280 more runs at the start of play.

With Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane unbeaten overnight, there was still some hope for India that they could pull a record fourth-innings chase.

But Boland got the ball rolling in the first hour.

Scott Boland draws the edge from Virat Kohli as India lose their first wicket on the final day.

A tempter that moved away from Virat Kohli lured the Indian talisman into a risky drive, and Smith held on brilliantly in the cordon as the ball flew off the edge.

And Boland struck again, two balls later, sending down a peach that left Ravindra Jadeja just enough to find the edge, with Alex Carey the grateful recipient behind the stumps.

It was a matter of when, not if, when Mitchell Starc removed Ajinkya Rahane, and wickets tumbled throughout the remainder of the morning

Australia get their hands on the Test mace, and the party begins•Jun 11, 2023•Getty Images session, with Australia wrapping it up before lunch.

Lyon got in on the action, trapping Shardul Thakur in front, and then helping clean up the tail.

A fiery delivery from Starc did for Umesh Yadav, with Carey taking a superb catch above his head. And Lyon bagged the last two wickets for fall, picking up the scalps of KS Bharat and

India will rue the display on Day One, which left them behind the eighth ball for the remainder of the match, while for Australia this WTC Final victory adds the one piece of major ICC silverware that the nation had been missing from its trophy cabinet.

(BBC) - Novak Djokovic says it is not down to him to decide if he is the greatest player of all time after he won a men's record 23rd Grand Slam title.

Serbia's Djokovic won the French Open on Sunday, moving him one clear of Rafael Nadal in terms of men's majors.

He is level with Serena Williams on 23, and could equal Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 at Wimbledon in July.

“I don't want to enter in these discussions; I'm writing my own history,” Djokovic, 36, said.

“I don't want to say I am the greatest; I leave those discussions to someone else.”

In the past several years, Djokovic has been locked in an engaging battle with Nadal and Roger Federer, who retired last year with 20 major titles to finish with the most men's Grand Slams.

By beating Norway's Casper Ruud at Roland Garros, Djokovic has moved clear of his longtime rivals for the first time.

On this evidence, Djokovic looks a good bet to extend the gap further, especially with the injured Nadal planning to retire in 2024, and 41-year-old Federer already retired.

“It's amazing to know that I'm ahead of both of them in Grand Slams, but at the same time, everyone writes their own history,” said Djokovic, who also regained the World Number One ranking in Paris.

“I feel like each great champion of his own generation has left a huge mark and a legacy.

“I have huge faith, confidence and belief in myself and everything that I am, who I am and what I am capable of doing.

“This trophy is another confirmation of the quality of tennis that I'm still able to produce.”

How many more Slams can Djokovic win?

Djokovic will attempt to tie Court's record at Wimbledon, a place where he has already won seven times, and will be the favourite to equal Federer's record tally of men's titles.

“Grand Slams are the biggest priorities on the checklist, not just this season but any season, especially at this stage of my career,” Djokovic said.

“The journey is still not over. If I'm winning Slams, why even think about ending the career that already has been going for 20 years?

“I still feel motivated and inspired to play the best tennis