The ICC World Test Championship 2023 final is set to be a thrilling contest between India and Australia. The match will be played at The Oval in England and will start on 7 June 2023 at 3 PM IST. Let's have a look at some key points for the match:
Introduction to the Match
After a year and a half of near-perfect cricket, Australia is facing its third big challenge: the World Test Championship final, an event they've never won before. Both teams are seeking redemption in this final. For India, this is a chance to make up for their loss to New Zealand in the 2021 WTC Final. For Australia too, it's an opportunity to win the one ICC event they have never won before.
Road to the Final
Australia has had a dramatic journey to the final, beginning with the stepping away of then-captain Tim Paine. However, the team found strength under the leadership of Pat Cummins, who led them to several victories. Australia also managed to secure their spot in the final with a nine-wicket triumph over India in Indore.
Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
This match marks the first time in their 76-year Test history that Australia and India will face off at a neutral venue, The Oval in London. The pitch at The Oval is known to be one of England’s most spin-friendly decks, which might benefit the Indian spin bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. However, the pitch is expected to be more similar to an Australian wicket, giving a slight advantage to Australia. The pitch could offer good batting conditions initially and assistance to spinners as the game progresses.
Players to Watch
For Australia, vice-captain Steve Smith, with an average of 97.75 in three matches at The Oval, is definitely a player to watch. Meanwhile, India has a strong lineup with modern greats like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Cheteshwar Pujara has been a menace for Australian bowlers for over a decade. It's also worth noting that India will be without Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer due to injuries.
Probable Playing 11
Australia's probable lineup for the WTC 2023 final match includes David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Scott Boland. Josh Hazlewood's replacement is likely to be Scott Boland.
For India, the most probable lineup will be Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shubhman Gill, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav.
So let's sit back, relax and enjoy the next 5 days of what we are sure will be some of the best moments in the history of cricket. Which team do you think will win the WTC 2023 final? India or Australia? Keep guessing.
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