Page 43 - Icc World Test Championship

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: India's Rahane can prolong his Test career feels Ricky Ponting

Australia great Ricky Ponting feels that Ajinkya Rahane, who made a remarkable return to red ball cricket with his gutsy knock during the ongoing ICC World Test Championship final

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: India lacked positive mindset by opting to field says Shastri

Disappointed by India's defensive approach, former head coach Ravi Shastri has said Rohit Sharma did not show a "positive mindset" by electing to bowl in the World Test Championship final against Australia here. India left out veteran offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin and preferred a four-pronged pace attack to go with left-arm spin bowling allrounder Ravindra Jadeja as they chose to bowl under overcast conditions. The decision backfired as Steve Smith (95 batting) and Travis Head (146 batting) shared an unbroken 251-run partnership to put Australia in a commanding 327/3 heading into day two. "From what came out today, the mindset was to field if they won the toss, hence the choices in the bowling department -- four seamers one spinner," Shastri told ICC after the end of the opening day's play on Wednesday. "If the mindset was positive you'd want to bat, rough it out in the first session and see if you can put 250 on board. Don't think too big 250-260 and if the conditions got better

WTC Final: Hayden, Ponting slam India's decision to drop Ravi Ashwin

Australian greats Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting have slammed India's decision to drop premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for the World Test Championship final against Australia. Ashwin, who is the No 1 bowler in Test cricket and India's leading wicket-taker in the 2021-23 WTC cycle, was dropped as the Rohit Sharma-led side bolstered the pace ammunition by playing four seamers. "I feel that Ravichandran Ashwin is such a key factor, the leading wicket taker in the Tests cycle is not there. There are a few factors worth pondering on in Team India's perspective," Hayden told ICC after the day one's proceedings. In the absence of Ashwin, left-armer Ravindra Jadeja is the sole spinner in the playing XI and he went wicketless as India struggled to break the 251-run partnership between Travis Head (146 batting) and Steve Smith (95 batting). With Head's blistering century, his first in England, combined with Smith's resolute show Australia took the day one honours with 327/3 on the

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

Disney Star onboards 28 sponsors for India vs Australia WTC final

Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar tied up with 28 sponsors for the World Test Championship Final. Team India will face off against Australia in the WTC final today.

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

World Test Championship Final: Ringside view from the Oval

The WTC final is significant for mainly two reasons

WTC Final 2023, India vs Australia: Check pitch report, squads, date, more

India and Australia are ready to face off against each other in the World Test Championship final at the Oval, England. The WTC final will be played between June 7 to June 11.

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

Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood ruled out of WTC final against India

Australia suffered a big setback after senior fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the upcoming World Test Championship final against India, having failed to recover from a side strain picked up during his IPL stint in India. The WTC final is scheduled at the Oval from June 7-11. Australia included fast bowler Michael Neser in the squad with Hazlewood reportedly being given furthermore time to recover and prepare for the Ashes in England. Neser has been playing in the County Championship for Glamorgan this season and has been in fine rhythm, having taken 14 wickets in his last three games which includes 7/32 against Yorkshire. He has played two Tests for Australia and has got seven wickets. However, it is fast medium bowler Scott Boland, who looks a more likely first XI starter in Hazlewood's absence, in conditions which suits seam-up, hit-the-deck the type of deliveries. The five-Test Ashes series in England will start on June 16, and Hazlewood, who has already missed a pl

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