Australia vs India – World Test Championship Final Preview & Prediction
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THE FACTS
When is Australia vs India taking place? Thursday, June 7th-11th, 2023 – 10:30 (UK)
Where is Australia vs India taking place? Australia vs India will take place at The Oval, London
What channel is Australia vs India on? Australia vs India will be televised live on Sky Sports in the UK
Where can I stream Australia vs India? Sky Sports subscribers in the UK can stream Australia vs India live on Sky Go.
LAST MEETING
Match Drawn
THE LOWDOWN
AUSTRALIA
All roads are leading up to the Ashes for Australia, but before then they have the small matter of the World Test Championship final to contend with. They were beaten in their most recent Test series against India earlier this year. However, that contest took place in the Subcontinent and away from home, India should prove more vulnerable. The Australian batters and bowlers should adapt well to English conditions with a number of them having already spent the past couple of months acclimatising through playing county cricket. They’ll be hoping that such experience serves them well both here and in the upcoming men’s Ashes.
The biggest news injury wise for Australia is that bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the World Test Championship final. Both an Achilles problem, plus a niggling side injury are cited as the reasons for his absence and his participation in the first Ashes Test must also now be in doubt. He has been replaced in the WTC final squad by Michael Neser who has been in excellent form for Glamorgan, not just with the ball but also with the bat. However, the likelihood is that Scott Boland will get the nod to compliment captain Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc within Australia’s pace bowling arsenal. Aside from this, Australia’s line-up appears fairly settled, with Alex Carey set to don the gloves and Usman Khawaja to open alongside David Warner, who will be under huge pressure following previous Test failings in England.
INDIA
India are back in England for a second attempt at securing the World Test Championship mace, having been beaten by New Zealand in the inaugural final back in 2021 at the Ageas Bowl. It won’t be a full-strength Indian side due to injuries and it remains to be seen how much of an impact that will have on the make-up of their team. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant and batter Shreyas Iyer will not feature against Australia, all of whom would usually command a place in India’s first-choice Test XI. Virat Kohli though, will be there to spearhead the charge alongside captain Rohit Sharma, new opening batting sensation Shubman Gill and the pace-bowling duo of Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj.
A couple of key questions lie ahead for India. Specifically, whether they play two spinners as opposed to one, which would mean both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin being in the starting line-up. Another key decision is who takes the gloves in the absence of Pant, with Srikar Bharat and Ishan Kishan the two contenders. Replacing Shreyas Iyer will be the vastly experienced international batter Ajinkya Rahane, who will no doubt see this as his last chance to remain within the Indian red-ball fold going forward post World Test Championship final after being dropped back in 2022.
THE PREDICTION
Whilst neither nation has enjoyed much red ball success in England over the past 15 years, conditions should favour Australia more than they do India when considering the skill-set of the players at their disposal. The likes of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are proven performers with the bat in England and on what will surely be a good batting pitch at the Oval, it would be no surprise to see the two cash in. Injuries to key players among the India team really do represent a significant blow from their point of view. Both Boland and Neser contain the bowling attributes to make up for Hazlewood’s absence and with a top-quality spinner in Nathan Lyon, Australia have all bases covered. Back Pat Cummins’ side to come out on top and win the World Test Championship final.
TIP: AUSTRALIA TO WIN
