Page 55 - Australia Cricket Team

WTC Final 2023: India's own follies contribute to the Oval disaster

India's hopes of adding an ICC trophy to their cabinet after 2013 were crushed mercilessly by Australia during the WTC final, but Rohit Sharma's men had to pay for their own follies too at the Oval. The train of inanity started with the team selection and that percolated into the shot selection of the much-vaunted India top-order batsmen. So, let's start over from that selection fumble. India decided not to pick Ravichandran Ashwin, the No 1 Test bowler by the current ICC Rankings. But even if you discount the ranking factor, the veteran off-spinner has been India's most successful bowler in the 2021-2023 WTC cycle, taking 61 wickets from 13 matches. In team management's defence, they can say most of those 61 victims were scalped during home games on designer tracks. The team management might have been befooled by the tinge of green on the pitch and the overhead conditions while taking that call, also the decision to bat first. India bowling Paras Mhambrey said precisely that. "I

WTC Final Day 5 Highlights: Australia are new Test champions of the world

India vs Australia Live Score, World Test Championship Final, Day 5: India have lost back-to-back wickets as Scott Boland got both Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja. Rahane is still in the middle

WTC Final Day 4 Highlights: Kohli key; India 164/3, need 280 more to win

India vs Australia, World Test Championship Final, Day 4 Highlights: Australia declared at 270/8, India are 164/3. P'ship between Kohli and Rahane is 71*. On last day, India need 280, Aussie 7 wkts

WTC Final: Kohli stands in Australia's way as India need another 280 to win

A focussed Virat Kohli stood between Australia and World Test Championship mace as India require another 280 runs to create history on what promises to be an intriguing final day of the summit clash. Kohli was batting on 44 off 60 balls and had Ajinkya Rahane (20 batting) for company during a stand of 71 for the fourth wicket as India ended the fourth day on 164 for 3 in pursuit of world record chase of 444. Having been set a mammoth target, India lost Shubman Gill (18 off 19) to a contentious catch before skipper Rohit Sharma (43 off 60) and Cheteshwar Pujara (27 off 47) brought about their own downfall to make it 93 for three in 31st over. Australia had declared their second innings at 270 for 8 midway into the afternoon session after an unbeaten 66 from Alex Carey. Though the highest chase at The Oval is 263, Indian fans will not lose hope going into day five with Kohli and Rahane hardly facing any trouble with batting not looking so difficult on the penultimate day. The pitch

WTC Final 2023: Australia set India a mammoth 444-run target to win

Australia declared their second innings at 270 for 8 on day four, setting India a mammoth 444-run target to the win the World Test Championship final here on Saturday. Australia had taken a massive first-innings lead of 173. Resuming at 123 for 4 on Saturday, they added 147 runs before skipper Pat Cummins declared the innings an hour into the post-lunch session on the fourth day. Alex Carey was the top-scorer for Australia in the second innings, scoring an unbeaten 66. Mohammed Shami (2/39), Ravindra Jadeja (3/58), Umesh Yadav (2/54) and picked up the four wickets for India on day four. Ajinkya Rahane (89) and Shardul Thakur (51) had guided India to 296 in the first innings after the top order collapsed. Brief Scores: Australia: 469 and 270 for 8 declared in 84.3 overs (Alex Carey 66 not out, Mitchell Starc 41, Ravindra Jadeja 3/58). India 1st Innings: 296.

WTC Final: Marnus explains nap that sent cricket world into a spin

Top-ranked Test batter Marnus Labuschagne has revealed why he took a brief nap during Australia's second innings of the ICC World Test Championship Final

WTC Final Day 3 Highlights: India still in it; Australia 123/4, lead by 296

World Test Championship Final, India vs Australia Day 3 Highlights: India fought back hard as they not only got to 296 after being 151/6 early morning, but have held Australia at 123/4 with lead 296

WTC Final Day 2 Highlights: Australia on top as India trail by 318 runs

ICC WTC Final, 2023, India vs Australia - Day 2 Highlights: Steve Smith's century was the only riveting moment as India trailed by 318 at the end of Day 2. Australia scored 469. India struggle at151/5

WTC Final: 'Hopefully I don't get dropped too much ', says ton-up Head

Australian batter Travis Head is hoping he doesn't get dropped too much in the future after his impressive batting display against India on Day 1 of the World Test Championship Final at the Oval

WTC Final Day 1 Highlights, IND vs AUS: Head, Smith power Aussies to 327/3

India, led by Rohit Sharma would be against Pat Cummins' Australia as the two teams vie for their maiden World Test Championship. Catch all the updates here

WTC Final: Have India made a mistake by not playing Ravichandran Ashwin?

Ravichandran Ashwin is the only bowler to have picked up more than 200 wickets of left-handed batters alone. Australia are playing with five left-handers in this game

WTC Final preview: India ahead as Aussie miss Hazlewood in ultimate clash

The Australian team would miss not having Josh Hazlewood in their side in a game that would be more about testing the patience of the Indian batters

WTC Final: It's better to stay a bit underdone than overdone says Cummins

Australia captain Pat Cummins doesn't mind staying a bit undercooked going into the high-octane WTC final against India rather than playing two months of T20 cricket and landing up jaded for a gruelling English summer. Asked if the bulk of the Australian side (save Cameron Green, David Warner in IPL and Marnus Labuschagne in County cricket) would be a bit rusty with virtually no game time since the India series, the skipper on Sunday begged to differ. "Breaks are rare to come by," said the modern day great, who has 217 Test wickets from 49 games. "I have always said, with six Test matches (including five in the Ashes), it is better to be slightly underdone than overdone. I am talking from a bower's point of view. So I want to be physically fresh. "Back home, we did lot of training. We have trained hard, rejuvenated and refreshed and are keen," Cummins brushed aside talks of rustiness during ICC's 'Afternoon with Test Legends' event at the Oval. Terming the track as a good one with

WTC Final: Michael Neser named as replacement for Hazlewood in Aussie squad

Fast-bowling all-rounder Michael Neser has been named as a replacement for Josh Hazlewood in Australian squad for the World Test Championship Final clash against India starting at The Oval from June 7

WTC Final: Cameron Green hopes to bring in Rohit's calmness in his approach

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green hopes to bring the calmness of Rohit Sharma into his game, having spent a quality time with the India captain in the Mumbai Indians dug out in IPL this year. Green, with 452 runs and six wickets, played a key role in MI's campaign this season under Rohit's captaincy, even though the five-time champions were eventually knocked out in Qualifier 2. "The calmness he (Rohit) has out in the middle is so evident," Green told ICC ahead of the World Test Championship Final against India at The Oval, starting June 7. "He's obviously been there and done that for 10 years. To be out there with him and just talk through a situation was awesome. "My role was trying to be aggressive and then he obviously showed ways to go about it, whether it was attacking spin, attacking pace, kind of picking your bowler in a way," the 24-year-old added. Green joined the Australia side late and made his first appearance at training session on Thursday. While the Mumbai teamm

WTC Final: Batting big worry; India find strength in Kohli, Shami and Gill

Virat Kohli is back in form just ahead of the World Test Championship Final. Alongside him, India will bank Shubman Gill and Mohammed Shami for the all-important event

WTC Final: Australia to rely on bowling against India amid batting woes

Australia's bowling unit is fully fit and raring to showcase its strength in the friendly conditions of Kia Oval. It will most likely cover up for the gaps in the batting

WTC 2023: Australia avoid hurdles, ride smoothly on its road to final

The Australian team missed out on a place in the WTC final last time around. But this time they are in. Here's how they made it to the WTC final 2023

WTC Final 2023: India's road was full of thrills, last-minute hurdles

It was not smooth sailing for India as it ducked many hurdles which included results of other teams to be considered as well

WTC 2021-23: Gaffaney, Illingworth on-field umpires for Ind vs Aus Final

Chris Gaffaney of New Zealand and Richard Illingworth of England have been named as the on-field umpires for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final between Australia and India at The Oval