WTC Final: 'Scott Boland is my favourite player,' says Pat Cummins after win over India

Australia captain Pat Cummins commended Scott Boland for playing a decisive role in his teams comprehensive 209run win over India in the World Test Championship final saying the seamer remains his favourite playerBoland made the game more difficult for India with his incisive bowling not allowing the famed Indian batting lineup to breathe easy at any point in the contest which lasted a little over lunch on the fifth and final dayThe rightarm seamer Boland accounted for Shubman Gill 18 Virat Kohli 49 and Ravindra Jadeja 0 in the second innings as India were bowled out for 234 while chasing 444We left Day One feeling like we were on top of the game When it counted we played really well We could have really driven the game didnt have our best day and let India closer back in For the most parts we were in control Boland hes my favourite player He just continues to be my favourite Cummins saidCummins had also stated before the final that he expected Boland to play a significant role in turning the tide in Australiarsquos favour in the WTC final against IndiaAlso Read WTC Final Pat Cummins expects Scott Boland to make huge impact in match against IndiaComing off a break everyone switched on when it mattered Everyone played really well and well savour this for a few days before we turn our attention to the Ashes the Australia captain saidHe also praised Travis Head 163 and Steve Smith 121 for their firstinnings heroics with their 285run fourth wicket stand creating a strong position for Australias winWe made the most of it losing the toss We were certainly going to bowl The way Travis Head and Smithy Steve Smith put on that partnership gave us comfort after a nervy morningrdquo Cummins told the broadcaster after Australia added one more trophy to their kittyHe Head has been brilliant right throughout this campaign started with the Ashes a couple of years ago He just puts the pressure right back on the bowlers and suddenly you are thinking about how to contain runs rather than taking wickets he saidFor Boland it was all about hitting the right areas consistently in such a huge contestIt was good fun Nice for our bowling group to come over here and put up a good performance and take 20 wickets You needed to hit similar areas all the timeThere was a little bit of bounce and we tried to exploit that It felt pretty good to get Kohli out Some amazing catching from our cordon its nice to have the confidence that if you get the nicks theyre going to get taken said the fast bowlerTravis Head said the win was a culmination of the hard work put in over the last two yearsA lot of hard work over two years Positive approach has been the approach for two years I wanted to be proactive and score if the balls were there and then if they bowl in nice areas you try and be good enough to stay out there for long periods I was tested through my innings he saidThe prolific batter said he always had the confidence to perform at the big stageIt was nice to be able to bat as well as we did with Smith It was an amazing Test from him Ive always had confidence Its been about going out there and expressing thatIt took me some time to find a blueprint in firstclass cricket and Test cricket Ive always been open to change Always been committed to knowing what I needed to do to step up Ive bedded down somewhat Im trying to be as consistent as I possibly can for the team he saidSmith said it was crucial for Australia to get rid of Kohli on the final day whose 49 in the second innings looked ominous for the eventual winnersWe know how good Virat is hes an exceptional player and when chasing totals he becomes dangerous Boland was excellent in the morning spell hit the right areas consistently we knew he would produce that outside edge and it did come talking about his catch Smith saidLeftam pacer Mitchell Starc also said Kohlis wicket was crucial for Australia to turn the match in their favour on the final dayWe were patient enough against a quality lineup and managed to get the breakthroughs needed Rub off the green went our way a smart catch from Smith and to get Kohli early on was a big boostHe played well in the first innings about Rahane was a nice partnership as well we knew if we stick to our task we will get chances and they did come Starc saidThe leftarm pacer said being in the IPL together also helped some of the players from both the teamsBoth sides were familiar to each other having played a Test series recently a lot of the guys have played with each other in the IPL so we know a lot about watching others games Lyon did a good job as well and we enjoyed ourselves Starc saidWith PTI inputsAlso Read WTC Final You cant take anything away from what weve done in last two years says Rohit Sharma after losing to Australia