The 2023 World Test Championship final is set to be a blockbuster clash between two of the world’s best Test teams. Australia and India have been the dominant forces in Test cricket in recent years, and this match is sure to be a test of their respective strengths.
Australia come into the final as the defending champions, having won the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021. They are led by Pat Cummins, who is one of the best fast bowlers in the world. Cummins is supported by a bowling attack that also includes Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon. In the batting department, Australia has Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, who are two of the most prolific batsmen in Test cricket.
India, on the other hand, is the number-one-ranked Test team in the world. They are led by Rohit Sharma, who is one of the most destructive batsmen in the world. Sharma is supported by a batting lineup that also includes Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane. In the bowling department, India has Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who are two of the best spinners in the world.
The match will be played at The Oval in London, which is a traditional Test cricket ground. The pitch is expected to be a good one for batting, which could make for an exciting contest.
Brief History
The World Test Championship is a league competition for Test cricket run by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It was launched in 2019 with the goal of providing a clear pathway for teams to compete for the title of world champions in Test cricket.
The first edition of the World Test Championship was won by New Zealand, who defeated India in the final in Southampton in 2021. The second edition of the tournament is currently underway, with the final scheduled to be played between Australia and India at The Oval in London from 7-11 June 2023.
Rules
The World Test Championship is a points-based system, with teams awarded points for each match they play. The top two teams at the end of the tournament will qualify for the final.
So far, Australia and India have been the most dominant teams in the World Test Championship. Australia have won all of their matches, while India have won 7 and lost 1.
How Are The Teams Performing?
The following are some of the in-form bowlers and batsmen in the World Test Championship:
Bowlers:
- Pat Cummins (Australia) – 27 wickets in 7 matches
- Jasprit Bumrah (India) – 25 wickets in 7 matches
- Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) – 22 wickets in 7 matches
- Nathan Lyon (Australia) – 21 wickets in 7 matches
- Ravichandran Ashwin (India) – 19 wickets in 7 matches
Batsmen:
- Marnus Labuschagne (Australia) – 774 runs in 7 matches
- Steve Smith (Australia) – 726 runs in 7 matches
- Virat Kohli (India) – 644 runs in 7 matches
- Cheteshwar Pujara (India) – 633 runs in 7 matches
- Joe Root (England) – 626 runs in 7 matches
Players to Watch Out For
Here are some of the players to watch out for in the World Test Championship final:
Australia
Pat Cummins
The Australian captain is the leading wicket-taker in the World Test Championship, and he will be a key player for Australia in the final.
Steve Smith
The Australian vice-captain is one of the best batsmen in the world, and he will be looking to score big runs in the final.
Marnus Labuschagne
The Australian No.3 batsman has been in excellent form in recent years, and he will be looking to continue his good form in the final.
India
Virat Kohli
India’s ex-captain is one of the best batsmen in the world, and he will be looking to lead India to victory in the final.
Cheteshwar Pujara
The Indian No.3 batsman is a solid and reliable batsman, and he will be looking to score big runs in the final.
Jasprit Bumrah
The Indian fast bowler is one of the best bowlers in the world, and he will be looking to take wickets in the final.
When Is It?
Venue: The Oval, London
Start time: 9:30 AM IST on June 7, 2023
The Oval is a famous cricket ground in London, and it has hosted many important matches over the years. It is a large ground with a capacity of over 25,000, and it is known for its fast and bouncy pitch.
The World Test Championship final is sure to be a major event, and it is expected to be a sell-out crowd. The match will be broadcast live in India on Star Sports.
How’s Buzz Regarding the Final?
Here’s how the hype going on for the #WTCFinal2023
Squad
Here is the full squad with stand-by players for the 2023 World Test Championship Final:
India Squad
- Rohit Sharma (captain)
- Shubman Gill
- Cheteshwar Pujara
- Virat Kohli
- Ajinkya Rahane
- K L Rahul
- KS Bharat (wicketkeeper)
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Axar Patel
- Shardul Thakur
- Mohammed Shami
- Mohammed Siraj
- Umesh Yadav
- Jaydev Unadkat
Stand-by Players
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Mukesh Kumar
- Suryakumar Yadav
Australia Squad
- Pat Cummins (captain)
- Scott Boland
- Alex Carey (wicketkeeper)
- Cameron Green
- Marcus Harris
- Josh Hazlewood
- Travis Head
- Usman Khawaja
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Nathan Lyon
- Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper)
- Todd Murphy
- Steve Smith (vice-captain)
- Mitchell Starc
- David Warner
Stand-by Players
- Mitchell Marsh
- Matthew Renshaw
The World Test Championship final is sure to be a thrilling contest, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.