The Australian media on Wednesday hailed India’s historic Test win at the Gabba here, terming the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar series win as one “for the ages”.
India became the first team to beat Australia at the Gabba in a Test match in 32 years and thus recorded a second consecutive series win Down Under. It was also India’s first ever win at this venue.
The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) posted a big image of Mohammed Siraj hugging Rishabh Pant from behind after the wicketkeeper-batsman guided India to a memorable win on Tuesday.
“India takes a series for the ages,” read the front page headline of SMH. “A staggering innings from Rishabh Pant steered India to an unlikely series win over Australia at the Gabba yesterday,” it wrote.
“India’s Gabba Miracle: Aussies Get Pantsed!” read the front-page headline of Herald Sun with two pictures: one of Siraj hugging Pant and other of Nathan Lyon where the Australia off-spinner seemed frustrated after he failed to deliver on the fifth day of the Test match.
“The day when Fortress Gabba was stormed by a group of cavalier raiders who kicked down the drawbridge, stole the crown jewels and raced off into the late afternoon sunshine towards hysterical fans who will cherish this memory forever. Take it all India.
You deserve it…Australia are no longer bully boys of the game. They have been stared down by the impeccable forces of an Indian team,” said the Herald Sun in a report.
“And Australia may have secretly drooled watching young opener Shubman Gill, the gifted rookie who moves with the grace of a ball room dancer and the panache of a soldier with a bayonet.
India have raised the bar in cricket. The scary thing is it is likely to keep going up,” said the Daily Telegraph.
Wrote the Australian: “Battered. Bruised. Thrice struck on the helmet. Blows to the ribs. The fingers. The back. The shoulder. The elbow. The bicep. The hip. The thigh. Courageous? Outrageous. Cheteshwar Pujara was the upstanding epitome of the bravest touring squad to have visited these shores.”
“Take it all India. You deserve it. Its not simply what you did – but how you do it, with a boldness that will inspire the entire cricket world.
Australia included. Extraordinary. Amazing. Stunning. The Gabba could host another 90 years of Tests and see nothing like it,” said The West Australian.
The Mercury said: “When all the world thought India was terrified about visiting Fortress Gabba it hatched a cunning plan…. to storm it!”
Shubman Gill (91), Pant (89 not out) and Cheteshwar Pujara (56) all played brilliant innings as India chased down the mammoth 328-run target on the final day of the Test match, thus breaching Australia’s fortress in Brisbane.