PTI
MELBOURNE, Mar 5: "A summer of spite ends in Indian glory" was the apt description of the proceedings of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Co's ill-tempered tour of Australia after their first-ever tri-series win Down Under.
Australian media praised Indian youngsters and highlighted off spinner Harbhajan Singh for having the "last laugh" after he was involved in a number of racism rows during around two and a half month long tour.
"As cricket became a contact sport, Australia were pitchforked out of the finals in straight sets by an Indian side which had the last laugh after a bitter summer of explosive tensions," said leading newspaper 'The Daily Telegraph'.
Australian Associated Press (AAP) also reported similar sentiments under the title 'Australia sunk in straight sets'.
"Instead of a fitting one-day farewell for retiring wicketkeeper (Adam) Gilchrist, it was controversial spinner Harbhajan Singh who laughed last and loudest, lapping up the triumph on the Gabba boundary in front of ecstatic expat fans," the paper said.
Heandline of the main article in another national daily 'The Australian' aptly summed up the tour as it said - A summer of spite ends in Indian glory.
"A fresh, young India beat Australia by nine runs in last night's ultimately gripping second final at Brisbane's Gabba to wrap up the competition after winning by six wickets in Sydney on Sunday.
"India's wild celebrations matched those of Australia after winning a dramatic second Test in Sydney and India after its historic third Test victory in Perth," the 'Australian' wrote.
'Herald Sun' narrated the Indian triumph, saying 'Rough night as Indians reign'.
"Andrew Symonds shoulder-charged a streaker but it was his nemesis Harbhajan Singh and his Indian teammates who landed the knockout blow as Australia crashed out in straight sets in the tri-series finals at the Gabba last night," it said.
'Courier Mail' analysed the defeat in which it concluded that "the gap between Australia and the rest has closed to the point where the national selectors must be getting sweaty palms."
"The Indian team which trumped Australia last night contains just one player Sachin Tendulkar over 30. Australia, by contrast, had just three players James Hopes, Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson under 30.
"Earlier this week, India stormed to victory in the under-19 World Cup. They are a nation on the rise. Australia are not tumbling into any sort of abyss but they are in slight decline.
"Given the quality of their retiring stars, it simply had to happen even given the continued excellence of Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey and Michael Clarke and the emergence of late-blooming James Hopes."