CHENNAI: Defending champions England retained their title when they came from behind to get the better of Australia 2-1 in the final of the 21st World Men's Team Squash championship here.

England won the glittering trophy for the second successive time before a packed stadium at the India Cements all-glass court. After world number four David Palmer gave Australia the lead beating England's top player Nick Mathew (ranked 5) 3-2, James Willstrop and Peter Baker played to their potential to secure a deserving win for England.

Willstrop defeated Steward Boswell in straight games 3-0 and Barker scored over Cameron Pilley by the same margin. As for India, it was a creditable show by the quartet of Saurav Ghosal, Ritwik Bhattacharya, Siddarth Suchde and Gaurav Nandajog as they finished a creditable eighth improving upon from their previous position of 11th.