WTC23 Final: Australia vs India | The Oval | June 7-11, 2023 | Pre-game discussion

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Win or lose the finals.. does not matter.
A great achievement from a great Asian team !! Congrats..

[IamIndian]

Win or lose the finals.. does not matter.
A great achievement from a great Asian team !! Congrats..

Select the proper players, and we can beat Australia anywhere in the world. The Test championship will be ours

[kukkad kamaal]

Congratulations. But defeat awaits us at the Lords.

[par]

I would've been great if it was an Ind vs Pak final. Pak really messed up their chances in this cycle.

[IamIndian]

Congratulations. But defeat awaits us at the Lords.

We will see

[Banda298]

We will see

Itna pessimism. Either India wins or rain washes out the test . !

[dravidthewall]

Without Bumrah, Pant its difficult for india to beat Australia in swinging condition . Congrates australia in advance

[pakistani pride]

I would've been great if it was an Ind vs Pak final. Pak really messed up their chances in this cycle.

Pak is far far away from competing against Aus, India, NZ and Eng in Test matches.

[dravidthewall]

I would've been great if it was an Ind vs Pak final. Pak really messed up their chances in this cycle.

Would have been great if it was Ind vs Pakistan final at oval infront of 80,000 capacity crowd.

[Bilal7]

Congrats but like others have said, this team seems headed for a heavy defeat at the Oval.

Ashwin and Jadeja won't be as potent at the Oval and although both Shami and Siraj are world-class, they don't have a reliable third pace bowler.

With Pant still injured, they either have to play specialist wicket-keeper, Bharat, or go with a part-time keeper. The latter seems like the better option given Bharat's blunders behind the stumps during the current series.

Kohli, Pujara and Iyer don't seem likely to score in England, especially if the ball swings and/or seams. The senior batsmen got some runs on an absolute road but haven't done anything else for a long time.

The likely teams will be:

1) Rohit
2) Gill
3) Pujara
4) Kohli
5) Iyer
6) Axar/Jadeja
7) Bharat
8) Ashwin
9) Thakur/Umesh
10) Shami
11) Siraj

VS

1) Khawaja
2) Travis/Warner
3) Marnus
4) Smith
5) Handscomb/Travis
6) Green
7) Carey
8) Cummins
9) Starc
10) Lyon
11) Hazlewood

Australia definitely seem like the stronger team on paper. Deeper batting, more batters in form, better bowlers (especially for English conditions) and they will be going into the game with momentum on their side.

[Nikhil_cric]

Without Bumrah, Pant its difficult for india to beat Australia in swinging condition . Congrates australia in advance

Even with them, we lost the previous final.

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Sad and bad day for those who thought Australia were favorites to win this series and stop India from reaching the WTC final.

[IamIndian]

Congrats but like others have said, this team seems headed for a heavy defeat at the Oval.

Ashwin and Jadeja won't be as potent at the Oval and although both Shami and Siraj are world-class, they don't have a reliable third pace bowler.

With Pant still injured, they either have to play specialist wicket-keeper, Bharat, or go with a part-time keeper. The latter seems like the better option given Bharat's blunders behind the stumps during the current series.

Kohli, Pujara and Iyer don't seem likely to score in England, especially if the ball swings and/or seams. The senior batsmen got some runs on an absolute road but haven't done anything else for a long time.

The likely teams will be:

1) Rohit
2) Gill
3) Pujara
4) Kohli
5) Iyer
6) Axar/Jadeja
7) Bharat
8) Ashwin
9) Thakur/Umesh
10) Shami
11) Siraj

VS

1) Khawaja
2) Travis/Warner
3) Marnus
4) Smith
5) Handscomb/Travis
6) Green
7) Carey
8) Cummins
9) Starc
10) Lyon
11) Hazlewood

Australia definitely seem like the stronger team on paper. Deeper batting, more batters in form, better bowlers (especially for English conditions) and they will be going into the game with momentum on their side.

My Playing XI is looking better than yours

1) Rohit
2) Gill
3) Pujara
4) Kohli
5) Ishan/Samson (Wk)
6) Hadik Pandya
7) Ashwin
8) Umran malik
10) Shami
11) Siraj

[IamIndian]

See you at Oval!

[jattafridi]

Congrats India

good players and performances totally deserve it

India can beat Australia in the final

[JibranAnsari]

Weldone.

Why is the final being played at lords?

[Sidilicious]

Sad and bad day for those who thought Australia were favorites to win this series and stop India from reaching the WTC final.

Your post does not make sense logically.

It would be a sad and bad day for people who don’t want india to win, irrespective of whether they thought india would beat Aussies or not.

I wasn’t too sure of india chances, and thought India will lose to Aus(which they could have, as other than the 1st test, they had the upper hand at some point in all the tests). But as an Indian fan, it’s actually a good day as we did making it to the final, despite a fairly average performance.

As an Indian in the 90s, I hardly thought india would win anything. So by your logic, whenever india won against a better team, it was a sad day for me? Or really a day to be even more ecstatic

[DeadlyVenom]

Great achievement. They have dominated Test Cricket for a long time and deserve to be in the final.

They have beaten Australia in Australia and also beaten them at home. Surely India are the favourites here, no matter the conditions.

[AamchiMumbaikar]

It's a one off test, anything can happen. Aus start as favs

[jnaveen1980]

Australia is a far more inform team. In England form of pace unit is more important than spinners. Australia will have instant advantage. Currently it is a well oiled unit with 4 inform batsmen. Labu,Smith, Head,Khawaja.

[jattafridi]

India are Favorites to win World Test Championship

Lucky Indian fans will celebrate after the victory

Heartbreak 💔 for Australian fans

[Nikhil_cric]

Congrats but I feel we are going to get flattened. Australia will probably bring Bancroft in to open and push Travis Head back down to 5 and Handscomb out.

The lineup could possibly be

Khwaja
Bancroft
Marnus
Smith
Head
Green
Carey
Starc
Hazlewood
Cummins
Lyon

This is at Lord's too where Australia has a better record than any team including England.

[Buffet]

Aus is likely to win one off test in Lord's.

[Mp812]

Its so extraordinary that in last two test matches NZ has played, they won by such narrowest of margins against Eng by 1 run and now against SL by 1 wkt.
Is NZ luck in close encounter games reversing in their favour?

[jnaveen1980]

I see mention of Lords by a lot of posters. Guys it is not at Lords. It is at the Oval in June.

[shaz619]

India will enjoy conditions at the Oval, plus guys like Kohli are more suited to the extra bounce and are accustomed to playing extravagant spin. Reverse swing will play a part in the latter innings to.

It should be a good contest providing weather holds up, India have a better chance at the Oval than any other ground in England

[Bilal7]

My Playing XI is looking better than yours

1) Rohit
2) Gill
3) Pujara
4) Kohli
5) Ishan/Samson (Wk)
6) Hadik Pandya
7) Ashwin
8) Umran malik
10) Shami
11) Siraj

Not only are you short a man but you are playing a part-time keeper and an unreliable all-rounder who hasn't played a test in quite some time.

[shah9425]

Australia will win this hopefully

[Ab Fan]

Ashwin might play the final again since the 3rd and 4th pacer seems likely to be Umesh and Shardul in absence of Bumrah. Having both weakens the bowling a bit. But then Ashwin is not really someone you can rely too much on in those conditions either.

Australia should win this easily.

[sweep_shot]

Congratulations.

Two best teams went to final. Should be a good final. Aussies are slightly more favorites.

[Justcrazy]

Without Bumrah, Pant its difficult for india to beat Australia in swinging condition . Congrates australia in advance

Oval is a good batting pitch.

[Justcrazy]

Congratulations. But defeat awaits us at the Lords.

Its in Oval.

[Justcrazy]

My Playing XI is looking better than yours

1) Rohit
2) Gill
3) Pujara
4) Kohli
5) Ishan/Samson (Wk)
6) Hadik Pandya
7) Ashwin
8) Umran malik
10) Shami
11) Siraj

India will not play this team.

[WengerOut]

Funny how indian tail becomes longer during overseas tests.

[Suleiman]

Congrats. WTC seems like a farce tho with a one off test lol. Seems insulting to the format to decide the best with a one off game. Should be a three match series.

As I’ve already said, best test team in the world. I like England as a venue because it will be anyone’s game when it’s between any two sides except for England.

[Bhaijaan]

We are clearly not at the peak of our powers in test cricket as we were for last many years under Kohli (when he was himself at the peak).

Having said that, this Australian team is also vulnerable outside of Australia.

It lords, it makes for an exciting contest. Looking forward to it.

For all the Bazball hype, England still missed out on this. Such a shame.

[jnaveen1980]

We are clearly not at the peak of our powers in test cricket as we were for last many years under Kohli (when he was himself at the peak).

Having said that, this Australian team is also vulnerable outside of Australia.

It lords, it makes for an exciting contest. Looking forward to it.

For all the Bazball hype, England still missed out on this. Such a shame.

Not Lords

[davidba90]

If Axar doesn't play I'm going to cry as I've tried numerous times to see him play over the years but never had any joy! Got tickets for days 2 and 5!

[Front Foot Pull]

this final is at oval. 2025 final is at lord's.
india won in both lord's and oval in our last ENG tour. 2 victories in the capital.

for the finals india will miss pant & bumrah. should see how they'll go with the selection of bowling unit. i think they might pick shami, siraj, umesh, ashwin, jadeja.

australia will start as favourites.

[RexRex]

I didn't enjoy the latter half of this Ind-Aus series at all. The final two pitches were a major turn-off for me. Poor curators are ruining the game.

[Champ_Pal]

This entire Aus series looks doctored. Shame on BCCI. Have faith in your players to win on traditional spin pitches rather than rank turners.

[BaankeJi]

Congrats but like others have said, this team seems headed for a heavy defeat at the Oval.

Ashwin and Jadeja won't be as potent at the Oval and although both Shami and Siraj are world-class, they don't have a reliable third pace bowler.

With Pant still injured, they either have to play specialist wicket-keeper, Bharat, or go with a part-time keeper. The latter seems like the better option given Bharat's blunders behind the stumps during the current series.

Kohli, Pujara and Iyer don't seem likely to score in England, especially if the ball swings and/or seams. The senior batsmen got some runs on an absolute road but haven't done anything else for a long time.

The likely teams will be:

1) Rohit
2) Gill
3) Pujara
4) Kohli
5) Iyer
6) Axar/Jadeja
7) Bharat
8) Ashwin
9) Thakur/Umesh
10) Shami
11) Siraj

VS

1) Khawaja
2) Travis/Warner
3) Marnus
4) Smith
5) Handscomb/Travis
6) Green
7) Carey
8) Cummins
9) Starc
10) Lyon
11) Hazlewood

Australia definitely seem like the stronger team on paper. Deeper batting, more batters in form, better bowlers (especially for English conditions) and they will be going into the game with momentum on their side.

India can have Unadkat in place of Thakur/Umesh. I have more trust in bowling if Unadkat than those two.

[IamIndian]

Not only are you short a man but you are playing a part-time keeper and an unreliable all-rounder who hasn't played a test in quite some time.

Oops! Add jadeja to that list.. Ishan Kishan/Sanju Samson are not part time keepers., They keep for their states in First Class cricket.

[Major]

who is the finalist and when will it be played and wheere?

[Energy]

If Axar doesn't play I'm going to cry as I've tried numerous times to see him play over the years but never had any joy! Got tickets for days 2 and 5!

Ladies and gents. We have Axar Patel on this forum.

[jnaveen1980]

Without Pant it is a huge void. India has a giant paperweight in Shrikar Bharat. Keeping and batting both are far inferior.

[Colorblind Genius]

Win or lose the finals.. does not matter.
A great achievement from a great Asian team !! Congrats..

lol at “win or lose finals does not matter”

Already scared, aren’t we?

We play the entire tournaments with the major goal of winning the finals. So yes, this is exactly what matters.

But I see where you coming from - how many cricket finals have India won in the last few years?

India has a got a very good Test team and the way they fought against the Aussies in the last test - was an evidence.

Don’t be scared and support your team with good wishes of actually winning the finals. You guys need it for a change.

[Colorblind Genius]

funny how indian tail becomes longer during overseas tests.

qotw!

[Kaptan]

What will happen incase of a draw? Trophy will be shared or Australia will win (since they topped the table)??

[jnaveen1980]

Funny how indian tail becomes longer during overseas tests.

Yea. But few of the remarkable test wins/draws came on the back of tailender performance. Shami/Bumrah partnership at t he Lords. Sundar/Thakur partnership at the Gabba. Ashwin's back to the wall performance in drawn Test at the SCG. Indian middle order was the tail.

[jnaveen1980]

What will happen incase of a draw? Trophy will be shared or Australia will win (since they topped the table)??

Nobody thought about that lol There is a possibility for that given that it is oval which is likely to be flat.

[sindhiboy]

Australia favorites no doubt.

But the oval being the flattest pitch in England makes the contest more balanced.

I wonder if Boland will be the 3rd choice seamer ahead of Starc

[happydavy]

Without Pant, very unlikely that India could win.

[RamLakhan]

Without Pant, very unlikely that India could win.

Even I feel the same. He is the one guy who would have given that slight edge / tilt in balance, that counter-punch, that fear factor (and he has done that to Australia many times!) Hence, Australia has the advantage. Anyhow things would have been favorable for India if the match was played in Sub continent / West Indies / UAE.

[PakLFC]

India are proving their mettle at test cricket. As for the final c'mon Australia!

[MenInG]

With star pacer Jasprit Bumrah already ruled out through injury and a number of places in their batting order yet to be set, India have some crucial decisions to make when selecting their final XI to take on Australia in the ICC World Test Championship final in June.

We look at three India players that weren't utilised - or were used sparingly - during the recent Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia that may come into contention should selectors opt to shake up the side under the different conditions expected in the Ultimate Test at The Oval.

Pandya may not have played a Test match for his country since 2018, but the talented all-rounder is a proven match-winner and could easily fill a number of roles for his side should he be selected.

The 29-year-old could slot in seamlessly in India's middle-order, but it is with the ball that the right-armer could have his biggest impact.

Pandya shone with the ball on the big stage at last year's ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and could provide India with a valuable fourth pace option if winning selection.

It would be a bit of a wildcard choice if Pandya is selected and if in fact his body is up to the rigours of five-day cricket, but he has shown he can have an impact at the highest level and a surprise selection could prove the difference between India winning and losing the high-stakes Test.

Three of Thakur's eight Test appearances for India have come in England and the talented pacer is sure to be considered for selection given he provides an extra quality option with the ball and is more than capable with the bat.

Ex-India coach Ravi Shastri recently said on The ICC Review that Thakur will be considered by selectors for the one-off World Test Championship final, and former wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik added further substance to this by declaring the 31-year-old should replace in-form all-rounder Axar Patel.

It appears Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj will be the first two seamers picked by India, with Thakur in the running alongside Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat for the third and final place in India's pace attack.

While Rahul has seemingly been overtaken by Shubman Gill as Rohit Sharma's preferred partner at the top of India's batting order, there is still at least one place up for grabs in their middle-order that the talented right-hander could potentially fill.

Australia great Ricky Ponting pointed to Rahul's excellent record in England on a recent episode of The ICC Review and believes both he and Gill can be selected in the same side for the one-off Test match.

Rahul has scored two of his seven Test centuries in England - including an impressive 149 at The Oval in 2018 - and with injury concerns still surrounding middle-order incumbent Shreyas Iyer, the experienced 30-year-old could still come into contention.

ICC

[Ab Fan]

India are proving their mettle at test cricket. As for the final c'mon Australia!

With massive injuries to the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, it will be embarrassing for Australians if they don't come up with a victory in the World Test Championship Final.

For India, the expectations are lower as they are without their mavericks, Bumrah and Pant so if they can pull off a draw, it would still go down as a terrific achievement.

[Colorblind Genius]

With massive injuries to the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, it will be embarrassing for Australians if they don't come up with a victory in the World Test Championship Final.

For India, the expectations are lower as they are without their mavericks, Bumrah and Pant so if they can pull off a draw, it would still go down as a terrific achievement.

Bumrah is the only key player that India could miss - even though Siraj n Shami are doing a good job.

Rest of these pants shants and Iyer shyers are nothing of significance. India has tons of such players available anytime. So no, I don’t think they will be missed.

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Bumrah is the only key player that India could miss - even though Siraj n Shami are doing a good job.

Rest of these pants shants and Iyer shyers are nothing of significance. India has tons of such players available anytime. So no, I don’t think they will be missed.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Sit down for now and jump like a monkey when Australia win which is what you are hoping for anyways.
Pant is the most key player especially in Test matches against Australia and he will be missed the most.

[JaDed]

Bumrah is the only key player that India could miss - even though Siraj n Shami are doing a good job.

Rest of these pants shants and Iyer shyers are nothing of significance. India has tons of such players available anytime. So no, I don’t think they will be missed.

Pant is the reason for our crucial test wins. Pant the test player is diff beast from Pant the LOI one.

He is an absolute big miss for us in test cricket.

[Colorblind Genius]

You have no idea what you are talking about. Sit down for now and jump like a monkey when Australia win which is what you are hoping for anyways.
Pant is the most key player especially in Test matches against Australia and he will be missed the most.

Jumping up n down like a monkey? lol

I guess you were the one acting like a hopelessly romantic yet sexually frustrated philosopher when you stated that winning or losing Test cricket WC final does not matter.

You are so hopeless and demonized before the series has even begun as if you have already accepted a humiliating defeat. lol

Anyway, I believe these third class players like pant shant, had a lil spike of significance in the graph during that Aussie series - and novice fans like yourself started having dreams about him.

He is too fat and unfit. A good person though.

Pant is the reason for our crucial test wins. Pant the test player is diff beast from Pant the LOI one.

He is an absolute big miss for us in test cricket.

Not in England. Check his record.
Bumrah in England, on the other hand, swings like Wasim Akram.

[Ab Fan]

Bumrah is the only key player that India could miss - even though Siraj n Shami are doing a good job.

Rest of these pants shants and Iyer shyers are nothing of significance. India has tons of such players available anytime. So no, I don’t think they will be missed.

Which available player can replace Pant the keeper batsman? Forget Indian there is nobody in the world that can replace Pant. He has achieved a lot in Tests at young age considering the impact knocks he has played already.

[Colorblind Genius]

Which available player can replace Pant the keeper batsman? Forget Indian there is nobody in the world that can replace Pant. He has achieved a lot in Tests at young age considering the impact knocks he has played already.

I think even a retired Robin Uthappa is better than Pant. Robin is a good keeper as well.

Matter of fact, even the likes of Azam Khan is equivalent if not better than Pant.
If you look around, you will find quite a few such players in domestic India.

The only thing I do appreciate about Pant is that he is not verbally and physically, a vicious, aggressive and an abrasive type.

He is quite mellow and has the demeanor of a gentleman. Credit where due.

[Mp812]

Does a draw result in shared trophy?

[PakLFC]

With massive injuries to the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, it will be embarrassing for Australians if they don't come up with a victory in the World Test Championship Final.

For India, the expectations are lower as they are without their mavericks, Bumrah and Pant so if they can pull off a draw, it would still go down as a terrific achievement.

In English conditions I expect the Aussies to prevail. This Aussie side is no where near the vintage one of the 1990's. No one will care about the injuries including India if they win so lets not care about them before either I am sure the Aussies have injuries as well moreover India has found adequate replacements for it's injured players. It is part and parcel of the game.

[daytrader]

Hardik Pandya rules himself out of World Test Championship Final

"To be honest, no. I am ethically very strong in my life. I haven’t done 10% to reach there. I am not even a part of the 1%. So me coming there and taking someone's place will ethically not go well with me.

"If I want to play Test cricket, I will go through the grind, I will earn my position and then come back. For that reason, to be very honest, I will not be available or play the World Test Championship Final, or any future test matches until I feel that I have earned my spot."

"We are not trying anything new," Hardik said. "We will play according to the situation but we will try to be brave which I think in the last couple of series we have done well.

"The more challenging and closer the bilateral games get, the more we can learn and start playing under pressure as well as the knockouts.

"I don't think we need to look at it [previous ICC events] right now – past is past. We are looking forward to the future and hoping for the best."

[Colorblind Genius]

Hardik Pandya rules himself out of World Test Championship Final

"To be honest, no. I am ethically very strong in my life. I haven’t done 10% to reach there. I am not even a part of the 1%. So me coming there and taking someone's place will ethically not go well with me.

"If I want to play Test cricket, I will go through the grind, I will earn my position and then come back. For that reason, to be very honest, I will not be available or play the World Test Championship Final, or any future test matches until I feel that I have earned my spot."

"We are not trying anything new," Hardik said. "We will play according to the situation but we will try to be brave which I think in the last couple of series we have done well.

"The more challenging and closer the bilateral games get, the more we can learn and start playing under pressure as well as the knockouts.

"I don't think we need to look at it [previous ICC events] right now – past is past. We are looking forward to the future and hoping for the best."

lol hahah,,, another chickened out with a fear of defeat.

Not surprising that these small hearts are dead scared and showing their true colors by these shallow and boring statements to earn some appreciation from their public.

If he was brave enough, he would rather say, "If my country needs me in the England Test WC, I am ready to fight till the last drop of blood".

[pillionrider]

If he was brave enough, he would rather say, "If my country needs me in the England Test WC, I am ready to fight till the last drop of blood".

You talking about Shaheen Afridi?

[RamLakhan]

lol hahah,,, another chickened out with a fear of defeat.

Not surprising that these small hearts are dead scared and showing their true colors by these shallow and boring statements to earn some appreciation from their public.

If he was brave enough, he would rather say, "If my country needs me in the England Test WC, I am ready to fight till the last drop of blood".

There is no necessity of such patriotic heroics! There are enough replacements for him in the team, so he is honest. And he knows he doesn't have the fitness for test matches at this point!

[MenInG]

India have the pace attack to trouble Australia in the World Test Championship Final in England even if Jasprit Bumrah remains sidelined through injury, according to WTC winner Ross Taylor.

Spin was the key weapon as India beat Australia 2-1 in the recent Test series on home soil but pace bowlers are expected to lead both attacks when the teams clash again in the WTC Final in June.

Mohammad Shami was the pick of India’s quicks with nine wickets in the recent series against Australia, while Umesh Yadav took three scalps in two matches and Mohammed Siraj claimed just one victim from 24 overs across three Tests.

While most fast bowlers struggled to make an impact in the Border-Gavaskar series in India, former New Zealand great Taylor expects them to be pivotal when the teams meet in seamer-friendly conditions in the WTC Final at The Oval in England.

Top wicket-takers in the current World Test Championship
“Any time you play in England, conditions and the weather play a big part,” Taylor said.

"Any time you think of Australia and India, and also you're playing in a neutral ground, the seamers play a big part. The Australian seamers are renowned for bowling with the Dukes ball and have a lot of experience.

“I wouldn't rule out this Indian side. They have had a lot of success over there in the years gone past, they have a few of these seamers.”

Bumrah led the pace attack with Shami and Ishant Sharma when India lost the inaugural WTC Final to New Zealand as Taylor became a national hero when he hit the winning runs.

But Bumrah is in serious doubt for the WTC Final this time after being sidelined with a back stress fracture and last playing for India in September 2022.

Even with Bumrah in a race against time to be fit for the WTC Final, Taylor is confident that India have enough options to call on for pacers to make an impact in England conditions.

“Very tough to replace someone like Bumrah. He's been fantastic in all three formats and is the leader of their bowling attack,” Taylor said.

“But I think there's still enough depth in this Indian line-up to trouble the Australian side. Shami and co are fantastic in these conditions.

“When you consider the India attack, Siraj and co are also very good with the Dukes ball.”

While Siraj missed out on selection in the WTC Final in 2021, Taylor is confident the 29-year-old can make his mark this time while identifying Shami as a key to India’s chances.

Siraj has taken 47 wickets at an average of 31.29 in 18 Tests, but has the experience of playing five Tests in England in 2021-22 when he claimed the most scalps for India with 18.

Shami took 13 wickets in four Tests in that series, while seamer Shardul Thakur played three matches and Yadav once in the series that is sure to come into the India selectors’ discussions especially if Bumrah remains unavailable.

“I think there are still a lot of (India) seamers that are fantastic and enjoy bowling with the Dukes ball,” Taylor said.

“Shami and his seam presentation, the way he bowls with the new ball, I think he is going to enjoy bowling with the Dukes ball. These players bowl in all conditions and the way they go about it.

“Umesh Yadav also bowls 140-plus. They will relish the opportunity to bowl with the Dukes ball and in English conditions.”

ICC

[MenInG]

Workload management is the catchphrase in Indian cricket currently, particularly around IPL. While a section of Indian cricketers has been told to take care of their fitness, bodies, avoid overexertion and monitor the volume of work, one group of players has been told to double down on workload.

You heard it - the bowlers have been told to scale up the workload during the ongoing IPL 2023.

Come the second half of the 16th edition of IPL, the Indian bowlers would be seen working more in the nets, maybe even with the red ball. The writ has been issued keeping in mind the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Cricbuzz can confirm that the bowlers have been handed specific targets on the volume of bowling they need to do during the IPL, particularly during the second half of the league as each of them mostly only send down about four overs a day during or in the build-up to a match.

Keeping that low volume of workload in mind, the Indian players have been given a target of 200 deliveries a week and report the same to the concerned authorities. The idea behind the suggestion is apparently to make them well-prepared for the WTC final, which starts immediately after the IPL - from June 7 at the Oval in London.

"It is important that the bowlers have enough workload under their belt before the WTC final, 200 or 175... they must go to the WTC well prepared," said Bharat Arun, a former India bowling coach, who was part of India team when it last participated in a WTC final a couple of years ago. The command is largely for all the fast bowlers but spinners too have been handed a similar advice.

The thinking is that optional practices and regular travel would mean they may not be necessarily working every day. In the build-up to the IPL, there have been varied versions from the players over the way the workload is to be managed during the IPL, a high-octane tournament which entails a lot of travel.

Skipper Rohit Sharma left it to the respective franchises saying, "Franchises own them now. We've given them some indications or some kind of borderline kind of things to teams. But at the end of the day, it's up to the franchises and most importantly it's the players. They have to take care of their own body. They are all adults. So, they have to look after their body."

Mohammed Shami said he knows what is expected of him to stay fit. "There's still time for the WTC Final and the World Cup and as a player, it is not possible to think that long-term. You don't know what will happen tomorrow. You need to be smart in terms of managing your workload. When you play international cricket, you know how much you need to work on. You understand your body well and that's why you should not think long term and take it series by series. I know my body well and can handle workload, so I am taking it match by match," the India pacer said recently.

CB

[MenInG]

Cricket Australia selection chair George Bailey has given every indication that Marcus Harris is first in line to be David Warner's successor and become Australia's next Test opener.

Harris hasn't played a Test match for his country since he featured in the final Ashes Test of the summer at the start of last year, but the 30-year-old received a vote of confidence on Thursday when he was named ahead of a host of other key batters in Cricket Australia's contract list for the 2023-24 period.

Harris was one of just three specialist openers to win a new contract, with selectors opting to exclude Matthew Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft from the 24-player list ahead of a busy upcoming period that includes the ICC World Test Championship final against India in June and Ashes series in England.

World Test Championship and World Cup the focus as Australia announce new contract list
While Harris' Test record in England isn't flash - he managed just 58 runs from six hits during the 2019 Ashes series - Bailey pointed to the fact the left-hander has scored a bulk of runs for County sides Leicestershire and Gloucestershire over the past two years and is well suited to the seaming conditions that Australia are expected to face.

"Harry (Harris) was our spare batter throughout the Test summer at home...back in England, then another home summer and Tests in New Zealand we certainly rate Harry’s ability in those conditions," Bailey said on Thursday.

"He has a really strong record in England as well and one of our criteria when doing the contracts is past performances and one is an eye to the future as well so that perhaps gives us an indication of where we hold Harry."

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting recently suggested on The ICC Review that Warner missed the perfect time to retire from Test cricket earlier this year, but the 36-year-old was retained on the contract list on Thursday and is expected to feature in the World Test Championship final.

While Harris might be at the top of the pecking order to usurp Warner and become Australia's next Test opener, Bailey was quick to leave the door ajar for both Bancroft and Renshaw to show their credentials despite the lack of a contract.

Bancroft will be in England playing for Somerset in the lead-up to the World Test Championship final and Ashes, while Renshaw has already showed his class with a pair of big scores for Australia A in their ongoing series against New Zealand A.

David Warner tipped to reclaim spot for World Test Championship Final
Bailey knows that Australia's current Test openers won't be available for selection for too much longer and is hoping the next generation of top-order performers can continue to apply pressure on each other.

"There is no doubt that Dave and Usman (Khawaja) are closer to the end of their careers than the start," Bailey noted.

"We are going to need some depth and we are going to need all three of those guys performing really, really well for us and hopefully they make our decisions really challenging."

Australia will choose a preliminary squad later this month for the World Test Championship final and first two Ashes Tests and then reduce their list down to 15 for the one-off Test against India at The Oval at the end of May.

Bailey said the plan was to assess the make-up of the squad following the first two Ashes Tests and announce a new squad for the final three Ashes Tests following the second Test of the series at Lord's at the end of June.

ICC

[MenInG]

India squad for ICC World Test Championship 2023 Final

The All-India Senior Selection Committee has picked the squad for the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia.

India’s Test squad WTC final: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

==

ooking to go one better than their final defeat in 2021, India have put forward a 15-player group ahead of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2023.

Middle-order batter Ajinkya Rahane has earned a recall to the squad, having not played a Test match since India's tour of South Africa over a year ago.

Shreyas Iyer, who had taken Rahane's spot, misses out through a back injury. There was also no room for Suryakumar Yadav.

Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel all made the squad, while Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav and left-armer Jaydev Unadkat are the quick bowlers of the group.

Jasprit Bumrah misses out as he continues his rehabilitation from a back injury.

Australia name squad for World Test Championship final and Ashes
Rahane played the 2021 final of the World Test Championship, making 49 and 15 in the defeat to New Zealand.


ICC

[Ab Fan]

My XI for WTC Final :

Rohit
KS Bharat(wkt)
Dravid
Kohli
Rahane
Jadeja
Ashwin
Axar
Unadkat
Shardul
Umesh

[stevewittry]

My XI for WTC Final :

Rohit
KS Bharat(wkt)
Dravid
Kohli
Rahane
Jadeja
Ashwin
Axar
Unadkat
Shardul
Umesh

Are you serious ?

[Smbhayi]

My XI for WTC Final :

Rohit
KS Bharat(wkt)
Dravid
Kohli
Rahane
Jadeja
Ashwin
Axar
Unadkat
Shardul
Umesh

Need one or two more bowlers in the xi.

[cricketjoshila]

3 spinners (Actually 4 if you add Unadkat).

Bringing back Rahane.

No attempt to blood in ypungsters but keep the oldies and bring back buried oldies.

No hope for this team.

[TheNeutralist]

My guess is that the T20I team will be revamped with all youngsters.

The ODI team will be next after the world cup, preferably next year.

The Test team changes will be more slower. Hope India loses badly which will pave for wholesale changes soon.

[Ab Fan]

Are you serious ?

More serious than the selectors

[MenInG]

India have recalled a big name among the 15 players selected in their squad but have more tough decisions to come for the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia.


India to back spinners or quicks

India have a critical call to make on whether to take one, two or perhaps even three spinners into the WTC final in the typically swing and seam-friendly conditions in England.

Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel have all been included in the squad after each played a pivotal role in the recent 2-1 Test series victory over Australia on home soil, and will hope to have done enough to seal their spots at The Oval.

It will be difficult to discount the spin twins Ashwin and Jadeja that demoralised Australia with a combined 47 wickets in India during the Border-Gavaskar series before the WTC final, but a green-top may well make the decision for India.

Axar (three wickets at 62 in series against Australia) was by no means as prolific, though put together 264 runs at 88 in the series, and would provide insurance from a batting point of view.


Left-arm pacer a left-field option

While India will miss Jasprit Bumrah as he continues his rehabilitation from a back injury, India still have a plethora of quick-bowling options.

Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav have been selected as the leading pacers with Shardul Thakur and Jaydev Unadkat the likely back ups.

Shami was the pick of the India quicks in the series against Australia with nine wickets, and has the experience of playing in a WTC final after taking on New Zealand in 2021.

Siraj missed out on that decider but bounced back to take 18 scalps against England in the five Tests played across 2021 and 2022, while Yadav has impressed with his recent impact.

But India have left themselves room to spice up their pace attack with the addition of medium pacer Jaydev Unadkat.

While the 31-year-old has only played two Tests - the first in 2010 and the second against Bangladesh in December last year - the left-armer would add useful variety to the line-up.

Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Yadav have been preferred in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, but with all three of them being right-arm quicks India may look to a leftfield option for the WTC decider.


White-ball wonder fails to take his chances

Late bloomer Suryakumar Yadav is No.1 in the ICC MRF Tyres T20I Batting Rankings and has become a regular feature in the India ODI line-up since making his debut in both formats in 2021, but is yet to secure his place in the Test team.

The 32-year-old made his belated debut in the first Test against Australia in February but after making eight runs in India’s only innings was left out for the remaining three matches of the series.

Yadav later hindered rather than helped his chances in three ODIs that followed the Test series, with three successive ducks.

With Yadav failing to make the most of recent opportunities in all formats, it is little wonder the T20I star has been left out of the squad for the winner-takes-all WTC final, but past performances on the biggest stages suggest he will have more chances in the future.


Rahane re-enters, though how will the batting order be comprised?

After an absence from the Test side since January 2022, Ajinkya Rahane has earned a recall to the India squad, though a selection in the playing XI is far from certain, given the collective strength of the batting group.

The opening role with Rohit Sharma is up for debate, though if Shubman Gill was to join the skipper at the top, it would likely mean Rahane slides into the middle order, with KL Rahul sitting out.

Gill is the in-form man after his century against Australia in Ahmedabad, though from the outside looks more flexible in terms of different batting roles, meaning there is also a chance of both Rahul and Gill featuring, leaving Rahane to run drinks.

Whilst unlikely given the difficulty of keeping in England, India could go bold and hand Rahul the gloves, leaving out KS Bharat and including both Rahane and Gill.

Even with all this considered, there's also discussion to be had surrounding the No.6 position.

Ravindra Jadeja batted there for the home Border-Gavaskar series, though only compiled 135 at 27 across five innings. In English conditions, there may be a discussion of moving Jadeja and KS Bharat down a spot, beefing up the batting.

ICC