'Insane' Smith blunder that shook Aussies in final
Australia's men tasted Cricket World Cup glory for a record-extending sixth time in India on Monday morning (AEDT).
Wide World of Sports takes a look at the performances of all Australian players, rating them out of 10.
David Warner | 2.57 (3)
Fielded the house down like he has done all tournament, to the point where arguably no one has ever been better in a World Cup. With the bat this time around though, he finished his series on a very rogue dismissal nicking a seriously wide ball to first slip he could barely reach. His intent was correct, but execution was rather poor. All ratings points come from his fielding.
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Travis Head | 10137 (120), 0-4 (2), 1 catch
Travis Michael Head – wow.
The 29-year-old became just the seventh player in men's ODI history to score a hundred in a World Cup final, and the third Aussie to do so (alongside Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist). Rode his luck to begin with, but became unstoppable as the night went on. Pace, spin, off-pace deliveries – it didn't matter, they all went to the boundary with disdain.
Undoubtedly shoots him up the list of Australian ODI cricketing greats.
His catch to dismiss Rohit Sharma shifted the momentum Australia's way dramatically, with the Aussies hardly behind the eight-ball from that point forward. His two overs were also golden for Cummins' side, preventing both Virat Kohli and KL Rahul getting settled.
Mitchell Marsh | 315 (15), 0-5 (2)
Bowled 12 really important balls for the Aussies across overs 20 and 24. 'The Bison' – much like Head – kept Kohli and Rahul struggling to tick the strike over when they needed to build momentum most.
Later in the evening, Marsh went hard from ball one with the stick – which in hindsight was still the right move. Very unlucky to fall to an under-edge through to the keeper when edges weren't carrying on the Ahmedabad pitch all game.
4 (9)
Played a beautiful on-drive that settled Australian nerves for two balls, before Jasprit Bumrah wrapped him on the pads. Insane to think that he nor Head (at the non-striker's end) thought he should review, and it cost them dearly. Ball tracking showed Bumrah's delivery hit him well outside the line, and he unnecessarily became India's third scalp in six overs. Not the World Cup the former skipper would have been after individually, but he still adds very important layers of leadership and experience to Australia's side.
Steve Smith of Australia. (Nine)Marnus Labuschagne | 1058 not out (110), 1 run-out
Played his role at No.5 to absolute perfection. Coming in at 3-47 from seven overs was tough, but it was the exact situation selectors had picked him for, given his stability. He never looked out of place, and was invaluable to Head who was batting at the other end.
In the field, Labuschagne established himself as a top five player in the world during a tournament like no other with his catching, run saving and throwing.
Is so important to Australian success across many aspects of the game.
Glenn Maxwell | 7.52 not out (1), 1-35 (6)
Was boldly thrown the ball in the powerplay and stepped up to the plate as the man to dismiss Rohit Sharma, which proved a gigantic moment in the context of the match. Finished his first bowling stint with expensive figures, but was far less expensive after that, and bowled particularly well to Rahul. Very fitting that he of all people was the one to hit Australia's winning runs in what has been a whirlwind series fans will never forget.
From left: David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith celebrating World Cup glory. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Josh Inglis | 7.55 catches
Wasn't required with the bat due to Head and Labuschagne's dominance.
Kept really well again, much like in the semi-final on Thursday. No wicketkeeper has ever had five dismissals in a World Cup final – a nice record to own for at least the next four years, and likely many more. Officially has the edge over Alex Carey in ODIs moving forward having finished off his tournament very strongly, despite some lingering concerns over his batting.
Mitchell Starc | 83-55 (10)
Started superbly to send Shubman Gill packing early, and conceded just nine runs off his first 17 balls. Rohit Sharma and Kohli quickly pulled him back in line in the following overs of his first spell, before he grabbed the wicket of top-scorer Rahul with a beauty. Was only scored off half his balls, which isn't easy when bowling in both the powerplay and later overs. After a patchy end to his group stage, his performances in both finals were excellent and far more reflective of him as a white-ball player.
Pat Cummins | 102-34 (10)
Wow. Captain Cummins defied the overwhelming odds of first electing to bowl first, and then chasing down the target of an initially unbeaten India in home conditions. Eyebrows were certainly raised when he decided to send India in, however it can only be praised after bowling out the home side for 240.
He was perfect with his bowling changes all day, and didn't concede a boundary off his own bowling. The clear highlight was his dismissal of Kohli, who was beginning to look really dangerous for his 54. Like Starc, he bowled exactly 50 per cent of his balls for no run while also using his off-pace deliveries to full effect.
He's had one heck of a ride as captain this tournament, but deserves every bit of credit that goes his way. It is straight up legacy-defining to lead his country to a World Cup victory in India. Intrigue will now certainly surround his future as a leader in the 50-over format, given his ever-growing workload.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins hoists the World Cup trophy. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Adam Zampa | 7.51-44 (10)
Was much more consistent than in the semi-final against South Africa, as he conceded just one boundary all innings. Deservingly snagged the late wicket of Bumrah. If being really critical, he'd have planned to bowl more dot balls during the middle overs, but all-in-all bowled well to a world-class Indian middle order. Took the crucial catch to remove Gill at mid-on early doors and fielded well on the boundary.
Josh Hazlewood | 6.52-60 (10)
Got a lot of harsh treatment early on from Rohit to find himself 0-22 off his first two overs. Like he has done all tournament, he fought back really well to remove the key wickets of Ravindra Jadeja and Suryakumar Yadav at the back end of India's innings. 'The Hoff' only conceded one boundary in his last eight overs – which for someone that consistently bowls line and length in white-ball cricket – is very impressive.
