World Test Championship Final 2023 (7th June - 11th June)

First topic message reminder :

The second edition of the World Test Championship concludes with the final between Australia and India, starting on Wednesday at 10:30 BST (that's half an hour earlier than tests in England usually start, so be aware!).

Australia narrowly missed out on reaching the first final, but for this cycle they comfortably topped the table with 11 wins in their 19 tests. This included a 4-0 hammering of England at home and also a narrow win in Pakistan, although they did lose to India in India by a margin of 2-1. India edged out South Africa to 2nd place to reach their second consecutive final, and they'll be hoping to go one better than 2021 where they were defeated by New Zealand in the final.

The two squads are as follows:

Australia: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Josh Inglis, Todd Murphy, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.

Reserves: Mitch Marsh, Matt Renshaw

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, KS Bharat, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadakt, Umesh Yadav.

Reserves: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav

Must be noted that Josh Hazlewood, who has hardly played any tests over the past few years, has been officially ruled out of the final, as he continues to battle troubling injuries. Boland will be the likely beneficiary.

Unlike the 2021 final, the weather forecast is for continuous sunshine and temperatures going into the high 20s. There is a reserve day in place, but it's not probable that this will be required.

I favour Australia to win this one. Their batting and seam bowling seems much the stronger, plus Australia are likely to find conditions more to their advantage than India.

No sign yet of a major change in the nature of the pitch

Carey a better judge of an lbw than Tim Paine

Did well to not waste a review then , even though it was Kohli. Might need it later.

Boland getting one to come in sharply to find Kohli's pads. Was going down so no damage, but he has got a couple to do just that little...

msp83 wrote:No sign yet of a major change in the nature of the pitch

No. From what Guildford and his Surrey pals tell us , unlikely to be any demons about.

Guess Lyon will be able to use footmarks.

alfie wrote:Carey a better judge of an lbw than Tim Paine

Did well to not waste a review then , even though it was Kohli. Might need it later.

Not a great benchmark to live up to! TP was just atrocious with reviews!

Rahane very lucky there, that could have gone anywhere...

Cummins not getting anything from the pitch, still managing to trouble the batters. Rahane in 2 minds playing a fine bouncer, in the end managed to somehow get over the keeper. Still think Lyon should be on straight away though as an Indian supporter, I don't mind if Cummins thinks otherwise.

The pitch isn't quite a road as such. Every now and then, one is jumping up or moving sharply.

Very poor from Marnus forcing that review. Could prove important later...

Bollix, Kohli gone

Some super catches in this final. Another stunner from Smith. Needed that.

Australia trying to keep a tight line, but India managing to rotate the strike well with some well-run singles. Seems if Australia pull the length back they can get something out of the pitch.

Ah, now Labuschagne is the only one in the ground who thinks Kohli has nicked it. They review. No dice. Don't know what Labuschagne heard there.

I'm fine with the two bowlers to start, though I'd be going to Lyon soon. Agree with Ponting that Green might get something out of this pitch. Green should target Rahane with the short ball...Kohli goes now as I type! A very poor drive, perhaps trying to get the score moving, and another top catch from the Aussies. Smith this time.

Marnus is hearing things

That was a silly waste of a precious review...

But it won't matter as Boland has got Kohli !

Great catch Smith and I reckon that has killed whatever hopes India had...

That is the heart ripped out of the chase. After surviving a totally wasted review from Australia, Kohli goes, 1 short of his 50. Boland with the strike. Poor shot from Kohli, going after a wide one he could very well have left alone.

Wow... another fine catch. Boland again.

Kohli failing in an ICC final/knockout game - imagine my surprise

And now Jadeja two balls later! Beautiful ball, that's game, set and match.

Takes Boland's bowling average back below 15.

First half hour has knocked rhe wind out of the sails

All hope for India has now gone. Granted there wasn't a lot but it is fully gone now.

And Boland has killed the chase completely. Jadeja goes even before Lyon could have had a go at him. KS Bharat, what can he do? Hasn't looked a test bat so far in a career into the 5th test.

Pitch suddenly changed this over of Boland
Bounce and seam movement
Aus will find it hard to leave this guy out next Frida test

KP_fan wrote:First half hour has knocked rhe wind out of the sails

Shut the majority of the crowd up too. I thought it was very rude booing the appeal earlier. Then cheering that silly DRS review from Australia.

Too much ice cream on a hot day?

A. Bharat looks a bunny
B. He should concussion retire now and let Ishan Kishen bat

What are they burning their reviews for? Surely going down leg.

Ponting is a very good and knowledgeable commentator/pundit but there is something about his accent that annoys me... I really liked Mark Taylor as a commentator, did i read somewhere that he will cover the Ashes?

Australia's review policy is the only thing not worrying me about this Australian team. Another terrible one.

Aus has lost 2 reviews in a jiffy
Boland is finding reverse

eirebilly_01 wrote:Ponting is a very good and knowledgeable commentator/pundit but there is something about his accent that annoys me... I really liked Mark Taylor as a commentator, did i read somewhere that he will cover the Ashes?

Yeah: Men's Ashes: Ian Ward, Nasser Hussain, Mike Atherton, Ricky Ponting, Mark Taylor, Mel Jones, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Kumar Sangakkara, Mark Butcher, Dinesh Karthik, Sir Andrew Strauss (Lord's Test only).

skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/12859416/the-ashes-2023-full-schedule-for-mens-and-womens-series-across-june-and-july

Langer talks like he is teaching grade 3 kids

Pal Joey wrote:

KP_fan wrote:First half hour has knocked rhe wind out of the sails

Shut the majority of the crowd up too. I thought it was very rude booing the appeal earlier. Then cheering that silly DRS review from Australia.

Too much ice cream on a hot day?

Overly emotional and jingosutic Indian crowd gets

KP_fan wrote:Langer talks like he is  teaching grade 3 kids

Yeah, I'll never forget how he treated that poor waste paper basket in the dressing room during the last Ashes. He's a bin basher!

He's trying to sound 'restrained' on air but I reckon he's got a filthy temper.

Admirable effort from Boland this morning

Unfortunately from an excitement point of view , he has killed the contest in the space of a few balls ...but at least it means I won't have to sit up half the night

Really think Boland has to start at Edgbaston. He has looked far the most dangerous of the Australian bowlers in this match. Clearly he's as happy with a Dukes as a Kookaburra ...

I like Ponting as a commentator - at least most of the time. but Langer - I reach for the mute button.

Yeah, if Hazlewood's fit I'd be dropping Starc, otherwise just keep the same XI.

Ponting was in favour of Starc over Boland if Hazlewood was fit, but I wonder if he's changed his mind?

Duty281 wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:Ponting is a very good and knowledgeable commentator/pundit but there is something about his accent that annoys me... I really liked Mark Taylor as a commentator, did i read somewhere that he will cover the Ashes?

Yeah: Men's Ashes: Ian Ward, Nasser Hussain, Mike Atherton, Ricky Ponting, Mark Taylor, Mel Jones, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Kumar Sangakkara, Mark Butcher, Dinesh Karthik, Sir Andrew Strauss (Lord's Test only).

skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/12859416/the-ashes-2023-full-schedule-for-mens-and-womens-series-across-june-and-july

Sounds like a decent lineup. Maybe could be improved by subbing out someone whose initials are K and P

Pal Joey wrote:

KP_fan wrote:Langer talks like he is  teaching grade 3 kids

Yeah, I'll never forget how he treated that poor waste paper basket in the dressing room during the last Ashes. He's a bin basher!

He's trying to sound 'restrained' on air but I reckon he's got a filthy temper.

Yeah the dressing room "leaks" showed him to be a control freak that seemed.quute shocking in a successful set up like Australia

Duty281 wrote:Yeah, if Hazlewood's fit I'd be dropping Starc, otherwise just keep the same XI.

Ponting was in favour of Starc over Boland if Hazlewood was fit, but I wonder if he's changed his mind?

An interesting decision for them. Agree Starc has been less than impressive here (useful second innings batting , to be fair) ; but they like the extra pace and left arm option. I wonder if they might keep Hazlewood on ice for Lord's ?

Duty281 wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:Ponting is a very good and knowledgeable commentator/pundit but there is something about his accent that annoys me... I really liked Mark Taylor as a commentator, did i read somewhere that he will cover the Ashes?

Yeah: Men's Ashes: Ian Ward, Nasser Hussain, Mike Atherton, Ricky Ponting, Mark Taylor, Mel Jones, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Kumar Sangakkara, Mark Butcher, Dinesh Karthik, Sir Andrew Strauss (Lord's Test only).

skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/12859416/the-ashes-2023-full-schedule-for-mens-and-womens-series-across-june-and-july

Is David "Bumble" Lloyd still around? Will he make an appearance for the Old Trafford Test?

I must be getting more mellow and tolerant these days. A few of those in the above list are irritating to my ears but I've learned to just 'let it go' and live with them.

It's the same (for me) with some of the Indian commentators. However, all will be forgiven, for the time being, if we can win this match.

Pal Joey wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:Ponting is a very good and knowledgeable commentator/pundit but there is something about his accent that annoys me... I really liked Mark Taylor as a commentator, did i read somewhere that he will cover the Ashes?

Yeah: Men's Ashes: Ian Ward, Nasser Hussain, Mike Atherton, Ricky Ponting, Mark Taylor, Mel Jones, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Kumar Sangakkara, Mark Butcher, Dinesh Karthik, Sir Andrew Strauss (Lord's Test only).

skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/12859416/the-ashes-2023-full-schedule-for-mens-and-womens-series-across-june-and-july

Is David "Bumble" Lloyd still around? Will he make an appearance for the Old Trafford Test?

I must be getting more mellow and tolerant these days. A few of those in the above list are irritating to my ears but I've learned to just 'let it go' and live with them.

It's the same (for me) with some of the Indian commentators. However, all will be forgiven, for the time being, if we can win this match.

No, he left Sky (and not too pleasantly, I think) so we won't be hearing from him. Sky has changed quite a bit since the last Ashes series in England, with Lloyd, Holding, Botham and Gower all moving on/retiring.

Rahane continues to play well...has had a good match , after I suspect many doubted the wisdom of bringing him into the side here.

He's not going to be able to win the game for India though. The two fellows who conceivably could have done so both fell to Boland ...Rahane is the rock they were meant to bat around.

Suppose he's the best man for an attempt to bat out the 90 overs now . But it ain't going to happen...

Disappointing dismissal for Rahane. Story of the test for India has been their top order getting starts, but none pushing on to the sort of score attained by Smith/Head in the first innings. Of course, that Smith/Head partnership was the partnership that won this test.

Seven down. Over before lunch?

Ha . My praise for Rahane didn't age well...

India fading fast and although I guess they will (just about ?) make it to lunch , this will be done early afternoon. Was kind of hoping from an England viewpoint that they might have been able to tire out the bowlers a bit more ; but have to say hats off to Australia for a fine demolition job

The end came quite fast, anticlimactic but not surprising
India was an ill balanced , ill lead side that conceded too much free ground on Day1 and could never recover from that

Right brute of a short ball from Starc. That's something that marks him out in Australia's team...

Another brilliant take, this time from Carey. If Australia can keep this standard of catching up during the Ashes, it makes England's task all the harder.

Not going to even make lunch ! Great take by Carey...he's had a good match

Duty281 wrote:Right brute of a short ball from Starc. That's something that marks him out in Australia's team...

Another brilliant take, this time from Carey. If Australia can keep this standard of catching up during the Ashes, it makes England's task all the harder.

Standard of catching has actually been a mixed bag though...quite a few errors in the first innings. Been right on the ball today of course.

Starc showing what he can do - though I'm not sure how excited one should get over dismissing Yadav ! Still can't see why he bats ahead of Shami.

Going to annoy our resident Indian fans if Bharat ends up with a decent score and red ink and gets to keep his spot for now

Msp and KP_fan can now thank me for jinxing Bharat

Greatest mysteries: What happened to the Mary Celeste; the Bermuda Triangle; Glenn Miller's disappearance; Bharat's first-class triple ton.

Any minute now I guess. Sensible delaying lunch.

You summed it up well earlier , Duty : Smith and Head won this game on day one.

And there it is ! Australia win by 210 runs - pretty decisive. Hearty congratulations

Duty281 wrote:Greatest mysteries: What happened to the Mary Celeste; the Bermuda Triangle; Glenn Miller's disappearance; Bharat's first-class triple ton.

Maybe need to ask Lord Lucan?

It was a good test between two sides with hardly any recent red ball cricket.
Thanks to King Charles III for the loan of that beautiful bejewelled mace. It will no doubt add some sparkle to the trophy cabinet.

Commiseration KP_fan, msp and Billy. There's always a hint of controversy in these clashes and I was reluctant to take anything for granted coming into this final day. I'm sure if you had Pant and Bumrah fit for play it might have been a different result. I'm careful commenting about individual player selections but from my point of view, India are truly a very strong side (even with those critical players missing) and your guys have proven many times they play the game with considerable skill and fight (like tigers!)... which I'm sure everybody appreciates and admires.