In a first, five Australian cricketers win all major ICC titles

LONDON: Five Australian cricketers – Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, David Warner, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc – all became the first to win all major ICC titles following their World Test Championship (WTC) glory.

The pack of Australian cricketers were part of Australia’s last three ICC title victories – ICC World Cup in 2015, ICC T20 World Cup in 2021 and World Test Championship in 2023 – making them grand slam champions.

Australia, having won five ICC World Cups, two ICC Champions Trophy and one T20 World Cup were in pursuit of the one major men’s cricket title – World Test Championship – that had previously eluded them.

The Kangaroos completed their trophy cabinet in style as they blew away India in the final by a massive margin of 209 runs.

After Travis Head and Steve Smith’s magnificent centuries in the first innings, it was Scott Boland who further dented India’s hope of title glory.

Boland did the initial damage with two wickets in Sunday’s seventh over, including the prize scalp of Virat Kohli, on his way to figures of 3-46 in 16 overs.

The right-arm pacer was not part of Australia’s initial plans but Josh Hazlewood’s untimely injury paved the way for his surprise inclusion in the Playing XI.

The 34-year-old seamer seems to have secured his spot in Australia’s starting XI for the first Ashes Test against England at Edgbaston starting on Friday.

“It felt pretty good to get Kohli out,” said Boland, who has now taken 33 wickets in eight Tests at the remarkably low average of 14.57.

“I have been playing state cricket for Victoria for 12 years,” he added. “I have done some hard work and it is nice to play international cricket and get some wickets.”

The defeat means India will have to continue their search for the first ICC title since 2013 despite reaching the finals four times.

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