Australia and India are set to compete in the highly anticipated ICC World Test Championship final. The winning team will be awarded £1.29m in prize money, while the runners-up will receive £644,000.
The clash between Australia and India will take place at The Oval from 7th to 11th June, with a reserve day scheduled for 12th June. The match will commence at 10:30 BST and will be covered through various media channels, including live commentary on Test Match Special via BBC Sounds and Radio 5 Sports Extra, as well as live text commentary with in-play clips on the Sport News Center website.
While some may consider The Ashes as the pinnacle of Test cricket, both Australia and India view the World Test Championship final as an opportunity to be crowned world Test champions. Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, expressed his excitement for the challenge despite the demanding schedule of six Tests in eight weeks for his team.
“We wouldn’t change too much about it; it’s a World Cup final,” said Cummins. “We’re pumped and feel in as good a position as we can be, so we’ll give it a good crack.”
India, having suffered defeat to New Zealand in the inaugural final in 2021, are determined to end their 10-year wait for an ICC trophy. Rohit Sharma, the Indian skipper, emphasized the team’s focus on winning the match rather than dwelling on past outcomes.
Australia’s squad includes players such as Cummins, Steve Smith, and David Warner, while India’s team features notable names like Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Mohammed Shami.
In terms of conditions, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes that the English conditions at The Oval favor Australia more than India due to their similarity to Australian conditions. However, Australia will be without fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who is recovering from an injury.
The Indian team faces their own challenges with players like Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rishabh Pant missing due to injuries. Nevertheless, the batting lineup consisting of Sharma, Kohli, and Shubman Gill remains formidable, supported by a strong bowling attack led by Shami.
Both teams will need to strategize for the Oval pitch, which often favors spin as the game progresses. India will have to decide whether to include both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in their playing XI or make adjustments based on the conditions.
The final at The Oval is expected to draw large crowds, as it is the first final without Covid-19 restrictions. A reserve day has been scheduled for Monday to compensate for any lost time during the match, but the sixth day will only be utilized for time recovery purposes.
In the event of a draw, tie, or abandonment, the prize money and the Test mace, previously awarded to the top-ranked men’s Test team, will be shared, and the teams will be named joint winners.
8 comments
Wow, the ICC World Test Championship final between Australia and India is gonna be epic! Can’t wait to see these two teams battle it out at The Oval. It’s gonna be intense!
I’m thrilled to see my favorite players from Australia and India competing in the World Test Championship final. Both teams have some serious talent in their line-ups. Let’s hope for a thrilling match!
The Ashes may be a big deal, but the World Test Championship final is the real deal! Australia and India have a long-standing rivalry, and this match is gonna be a true test of their skills. Exciting stuff!
The conditions at The Oval are gonna play a crucial role in this final. It’s interesting to see Ricky Ponting’s perspective on how the pitch favors Australia. Let’s see how the teams adapt their strategies.
It’s a bummer that India has a few key players missing due to injuries. But I have faith in our remaining squad. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill can definitely deliver some big runs!
The crowd at The Oval is gonna be on fire! After all the Covid restrictions, it’s gonna be amazing to see the stands filled with passionate cricket fans. Let’s hope for an epic atmosphere!
Looking at the batting and bowling averages, both teams have some stellar performers. It’s gonna be a battle between some top-class bowlers and formidable batsmen. Can’t wait to see the stats pile up!
A reserve day is always a good idea to cover for any time lost during the match. It adds an extra element of suspense. Fingers crossed we get a result within the main five days though!