WTC Final - 7-11 June, the Oval

[mikesiva]

Wed, 07 Jun, 11:00 AM
Final, The Oval, June 07 - 11, 2023, ICC World Test Championship
AUS
IND

[bigfluffylemon]

Weather looks set fair.

I guess Australia are slight favourites - they are world number 1, they tend to be better in English conditions than India due to their quick bowling (perhaps not so much recently though), India's formidable reputation is mostly based on home victories, and India are without several first choice players - Bumrah, Pant, Rahul, Iyer. But a side with the batting of Rohit, Gill, Pujara and Kohli, the all-round skill of Ashwin and Jadeja and the huge improvements in Indian quick bowling in the last few years can't be written off.

Interesting preview on cricinfo pointing out that this could be the last hurrah of golden generations on both sides.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc ... ch-preview

For India, Kohli, Pujara, Ashwin, Jadeja, Rahane, Sharma, Yadav are all the wrong side of 33, while for Australia the same is true of Warner, Smith, Starc, Lyon, Khawaja, Boland with Hazlewood not too far behind either. That's more than half of both teams. Could be the last summer we see any of those players in tests in England, and given the next Ashes is 2.5 years away it's likely the Australian side will look very different next time around.

[GarlicJam]

it looks like India have won the toss, and decided to field.

Brave, or overly cautious? I think the latter.

[sussexpob]

4 seamers + Jadeja... Not sure Jadeja would be the spin option Id take away for India.

60-1, Marnus has survived a couple of reviews... decent start.

[mikesiva]

Both openers out.

Warner 43. Khawaja for a duck.

Australia 73-2 at lunch.

[sussexpob]

89-3 now. India starting to make some inroads.

Travis Head looked like he had no head when he was over here for Sussex, but watch him score 200 now

[Arthur Crabtree]

Aussies' day.

Australia always seem to have an older/experienced team.

[bigfluffylemon]

Aussies' day indeed. Long way back for India already.

It is (just) possible, maybe, that a complete and utter lack of any red ball cricket and instead coming straight from IPL to play this match might mean India are just a little rusty, while Australia have been practising in England giving them perhaps a small advantage. But then it could be pointed out that Head hasn't played any red ball cricket since March, and hasn't even picked up a bat outside the nets for over two months, so what does preparation have to do with anything?

[alfie]

India fighting back a bit this morning ...after donating Smith an easy route to his hundred with two half volley freebees in the first over , Siraj came back to remove Head for a brilliant 163. And Green didn't last long ...edged Shami to slip for just six.

But Smith is still in and after the first hour it's 382/5 so I don't think Australia are too perturbed.

Couple of close lbw shouts against Carey , who hasn't really got started yet. Guess if they can get him out they might possibly be able to keep Australia below 500 ? But as this ball gets older I suspect the Aussie tail might prosper batting around Smith...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Smith is out. Aside from the two big tons, the Indians have shot the rest out cheaply.

[alfie]

Smith gone too now.

Carey and the bowlers left to add to a very healthy 387/6. But credit to India for some lively stuff this morning

[Arthur Crabtree]

Starc run out. Good morning for India.

[sussexpob]

Not watched a great deal, but what I have seen makes me think the pitch is not 400 plus good to bat on, so India are going to have to bat really well to avoid defeat here. Certainly early yesterday, there was some seam, but a lot of variable bounce.

[mikesiva]

it looks like India have won the toss, and decided to field.

Brave, or overly cautious? I think the latter.

And India are paying for that decision now.

It's been sunny and dry in London for the past two weeks. Why wouldn't you want to bat first?

Australia 469 all out

Head 163
Smith 128
Carey 48
Warner 43

Siraj 4-108

[Durhamfootman]

India struggling with the bat too

Looking like they need the two old heads to get them back in. I feel confident about one, but less so about the other