In the Final of the 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship (WTC), the second edition of the Test cycle, Australia will take on India at the Kennington Oval Stadium in London tomorrow i.e. Wednesday at 3:00 PM IST.
Australia and India progressed to the final as the leading two sides in the 2021-2023 ICC WTC league stage. Due to the covid-19 pandemic and numerous series being put on hold in the previous cycle, the league standings were decided by win percentage. Nonetheless, both teams had the most points as well.
As the Men in Blue compete in the thrilling WTC Final against the formidable Australia, the five-time ODI World Cup champions, it’s all or nothing for team India. India have already gone through and been in this predicament in 2021, but the outcome was unpleasant. Fans should anticipate some good fortune for Rohit Sharma as he leads the team this time. Supporters can confidently bet on India to win this match given the calibre of their team, but the Indian side must perfect their combination and be precise while making their choices. Who will play? Ishan Kishan or KS Bharat? Will Ajinkya Rahane return to the starting lineup? It’s challenging to provide answers to each of these queries. Nevertheless, based on what we have been told, spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin may have a successful outing given the pitch at The Oval might be spin-friendly. Additionally, with Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj, and the intensity with which they bowl, this match is likely to not end in the same way that India’s encounter in 2021 did.
Australia, on the other side, have a formidable team that may take vengeance for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023. Given the fact that every department has players who were specifically recruited for this format, Australia’s star-studded XI is almost a lock. Despite their concerns over David Warner‘s past in England, they can walk with confidence and pride because of Steve Smith‘s record there. The vice-captain of Australia has played three games at The Oval with an average score of 97.75. Additionally, when it comes to the middle-order slots, the Oz have their hands full with Cameron Green and Travis Head. Regarding the bowling attack, Josh Hazlewood‘s unavailability could be detrimental, but with Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathon Lyon and Scott Boland, they won’t be intimidated by India’s most recent triumph in this format.
Head-to-Head:
India and Australia have played 106 Test matches against each other. India have won 32 games, while Australia have triumphed 44 times. The most recent meeting between the two sides took place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where the Test match ended in a draw, which was also sufficient for the home team to earn a spot in the WTC Final.
Where-to-Watch:
TV: Star Sports Network
OTT: Disney+ Hotstar