The current Australia team are worthy of comparison with the legendary sides of the 1990s and early 2000s after “the most incredible World Cup victory”, says Michael Vaughan.
Pat Cummins’ side stunned hosts India to win the men’s 50-over World Cup in Ahmedabad to add to a growing trophy haul in recent years.
In 2023 alone, Australia won the World Test Championship and retained the Ashes prior to their World Cup triumph, while they also won the T20 World Cup in 2021.
As such, Vaughan believes this group of players are “moving away from that shadow” of the great sides led by Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, who won three World Cups in a row between 1999 and 2007.
“I have this as one of the real great World Cup victories,” the former England captain said on BBC Test Match Special.
“If you look at this group of players, you always feel they are living in the shadow of that great side of the 90s and early 2000s. They won three World Cups on the trot and pretty much won everywhere.
“But if you actually start to monitor what this group of players have done in the last few years, they won the World Cup in Australia in 2015, they’ve retained two Ashes in the UK but pretty much hammered England in Australia, they’ve won a T20 World Cup, they’re the world Test champions and now they’re the World Cup winners in India.
“This group now needs to be talked about in a similar vein.”
Australia overcame an India side who had won all 10 of their previous World Cup games on home soil.
Rohit Sharma’s side were favourites going into the final with the vast majority of the 92,453-strong crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium backing India, but a brilliant century from Travis Head ensured the now six-time champions cruised to victory with seven overs to spare.
“To win a World Cup in India, against this India side, against this crowd, everything about the whole operation of this World Cup has been about India – the force that they are,” Vaughan added.
“Australia have completely silenced that on this day in front of so many, on a pitch that is much more suited to the home team than an Australian side.
“The most incredible World Cup victory I’ve seen, against all odds.”
