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WTC23 Final: Australia vs India | The Oval | June 7-11, 2023 | Day 1

Its such a travesty that we are relying on Thakur to give us breakthroughs despite playing 4 bowlers!
 
Head has played 17 false strokes in 73 balls he faced till now. Talk about being lucky.
 
Aussies in firm control so far

India need 3 wickets in the evening session
 
Ab Fan said:
Because he has a poor record outside subcontinent and Windies.
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Don't know the stats but in recent years he's been much better overseas and this oval pitch looks dry and it's going to behave more like subcontinent day 3 onwards. Ashwin is more skillful than Jadeja and a menace for left handers.Jadeja can pick wickets only on helpful Indian tracks
 
Aussies gaining control.

Good batting this.
 
Jadeja plays ahead of Ashwin only to provide batting cushion... Anyways India should have found & groomed better replacement for Bumrah. Umesh Yadav is home tests specialist (just like spinners) where he is effective of finding wickets out of nowhere in home tests which becomes vital and fits our team in home tests as one of the 2 seamers (or 3 seamers when pitches are flat). His length suits Indian Pitches. In overseas he doesn't have the swing or seam or variety to trouble batsmen! He should never feature in overseas tests, but can be part of squad (or rather can be called as emergency replacement mid-tour) and play only when first choices are injured...
 
Match has comfortably slipped out of India... As I predicted Australia has seized the opportunity on the bigger stage!
 
RamLakhan said:
Jadeja plays ahead of Ashwin only to provide batting cushion... Anyways India should have found & groomed better replacement for Bumrah. Umesh Yadav is home tests specialist (just like spinners) where he is effective of finding wickets out of nowhere in home tests which becomes vital and fits our team in home tests as one of the 2 seamers (or 3 seamers when pitches are flat). His length suits Indian Pitches. In overseas he doesn't have the swing or seam or variety to trouble batsmen! He should never feature in overseas tests, but can be part of squad (or rather can be called as emergency replacement mid-tour) and play only when first choices are injured...
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India should have gone in with both Jadeja and Ashwin (in place of bits n pieces Shardul) and an intent to bat first after winning the toss. Bowling first on this dry surface just doesn't make sense
 
MP2011 said:
Its such a travesty that we are relying on Thakur to give us breakthroughs despite playing 4 bowlers!
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Because the other bowler is Yadav.

Shami has a tendency to go for runs. Siraj is good. But no wickets today. So they have to rely on Thakur to give breakthrougs.
 
Ahmed216 said:
India should have gone in with both Jadeja and Ashwin (in place of bits n pieces Shardul) and an intent to bat first after winning the toss. Bowling first on this dry surface just doesn't make sense
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SHardul is ok. Ashwin should play in place of Yadav who is useless.
 
India must get rid of Dravid. He is the worst when it comes to team selections.
 
Just checked the score after 2 hours and Australia seem to be running away with the game :))
 
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Pitch is nice and flat. Indian bowlers do not have any mystery to them or pace to hurry the batsmen into making mistakes.
Age old problem of India.
 
Siraj is the only one who looks like hurrying the batsmen. Rest are just trundling nicely.
 
Didn't BCCI check the weather report this morning?

Bad call for India to bowl first after winning the toss.
 
What a pathetic decision at toss!

We are better off losing tosses.
 
That way toss decision is taken out of our hands.
 
One gets the feeling that Australia are on course of batting India out of the game here.

There is still a lot that can happen but things are looking ominous.
 
That's why Rohit Sharma will always be a mediocre cricketer forever.
 
Aus will try to wrap up the game in first innings. Testing time for Ind bowlers to contain the runs and bowl Aussies out as soon as possible.

Ind bowlers looks impatient, after the first 15 overs they bowling inconsistent and leaking runs... they have to be patient.. if its hot and sunny tomorrow too Aussie will capitalize on that to score a big total. They will certainly miss Ash coming day2/3 if its still hot sunny and dry...
 
Jadeja should limit himself to play just home tests, no other format, be it away tests, T20s or ODIs.

He is mediocre except for home tests.
 
Never judge a pitch till both teams batted once each, India can easily wrack up a big total here as well. India do need a wicket or two here before close of play.
 
So a draw would mean Australia win the mace? because of their points?
 
MenInG said:
So a draw would mean Australia win the mace? because of their points?
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I think if it's a draw the team which was top of table wins it.

I think 5 days here will be enough for a result though
 
WTC seems to be the most boring trophy tournament I have ever seen. Players body language also looks down. There is no momentum, nothing.
 
Amjid Javed said:
I think if it's a draw the team which was top of table wins it.

I think 5 days here will be enough for a result though
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Yes agreed but India could easily bat well in their innings and we could have rain intervene on the final day
 
India look lethargic.

Australia need to target 550/600 now.

Can easily see an India collapse. Without Pant and Bumrah they look very flawed.
 
Useless Rahane dropped Head when he didn't score too many.
 
Lacking inspiration today India after having the opposition in trouble.

Aussies showing their mental strength once again.
 
Saj said:
Lacking inspiration today India after having the opposition in trouble.

Aussies showing their mental strength once again.
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Aussies generally always win final games. They very rarely lose these.
 
Truly El Classico..

2017 - India 2-1
2018 - India 2-1
2020 - India 2-1
2022- India 2-1
2023 WTC Final - Tbd
 
I think India can't win this now. They are too behind. Aussies have to collapse real badly to botch this one.

But, draw is a possibility if India bat well.
 
India can still win just need one good session 🥹

Wow amazing partnership Travis and Steve :14:
 
Travis Head stroked a sparkling century to put Australia in a dominant position against India on day one of the World Test Championship final at The Oval.

The left-hander, player of the series in the last Ashes, served a reminder of his talent before this summer's battle against England with 146 not out from 156 balls.

Head shared an unbroken stand of 251 with Steve Smith, who looked in ominous touch for his unbeaten 95. The fourth-wicket pair took Australia to 327-3 at the close.

India, beaten in the first Test Championship final two years ago, opted to bowl first on a green pitch under grey sky and reduced Australia to 76-3.

But as batting conditions eased, India's back-up seamers could not carry the threat of the new-ball bowlers and Rohit Sharma's side may rue omitting off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

India will return on Thursday with a ball that is less than five overs old. They must strike early or risk being batted out of this final.
 
Going to be some aching limbs in that Indian dressing room.

They need a good first session tomorrow to get back into the match.

Aussies looking at 500 here.
 
From 327-3 at the end of D1, Australia won't lose this one. So there goes India's chance of winning the WTC.
Rohit 'nailbiter' Sharma and Rahul Dravid have really taken the Indian test team backwards, notwithstanding the absence of Bumrah and Pant. How far we have come from the Kohli and Shastri era!
I hope the Indian batsmen can make amends in the next four days. A lot depends on Gill and Pujara.
 
Amjid Javed said:
Never judge a pitch till both teams batted once each, India can easily wrack up a big total here as well. India do need a wicket or two here before close of play.
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Indian tail starts with Bharat. No Ashwin or Axar to bail the top order out.

I don’t trust Pujara or Rahane much. Rohit has been sucking for a while now.

India only got 2 batsmen. Gill and Kohli. If they fall cheaply, India will fold for under 200.
 
MenInG said:
Yes agreed but India could easily bat well in their innings and we could have rain intervene on the final day
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There is an extra day for rain delays, so hopefully full game can be played, the poor over rates (85 overs today) is more of a concern
 
Highlights of Day 1 (Smith Head partnership)

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 40%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/rk0lfe" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

A compelling 251-run unbroken partnership between Travis Head (146 not out) and Steve Smith (95 not out) was the highlight of the first day of the World Test Championship Final 2023, as Australia finished at a strong 327 for three at the end of the day's play.

The day began with India skipper Rohit Sharma winning the toss in overcast conditions and electing to take the field. India went in with four pacers on a wicket with a hint of grass, overlooking off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the process. Likewise, Australia have four pace options in skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and all-rounder Cameron Green.

The first hour of play saw India’s new ball pair of Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj get the maximum bite out of the Dukes cherry. Australia opener Usman Khawaja departed for a duck in the fourth over after nicking a Siraj delivery behind the wicket. With this, the southpaw’s poor run in England continues, where he has scored at an average of 18.15.

His partner David Warner, however, helped see off the new ball by adopting a more proactive approach. His 43 off 60 included eight boundaries, four of which came in pacer Umesh Yadav’s second over. Warner added 63 runs in a second-wicket stand with Marnus Labuschagne before mistiming a pull shot off Shardul Thakur right before the lunch break.

Beginning the second session at 73 for two, Australia were rocked early on after Labuschagne (26) was castled off a full Shami delivery that seamed back through the gate. However, any hopes of further breakthroughs for the bowling side in the session were dented by Smith and Head.

Head was the fire to Smith’s ice as the duo combined to get Australia to 170 for three at the end of the second session. Driven by a net positive approach, Australia scored at a run rate of 3.46 in the middle session.

Post-Tea, the duo put their foot on the pedal and made the most of a tiring pace attack. The scoring rate improved even further, remaining above four throughout the session, as Smith opened up to complement Head in his aggressive approach.

In the final session, Smith reached his 38th Test fifty, while Head smashed his sixth Test hundred and his first in overseas conditions. With this, Head became the first-ever player to score a century in a WTC final. This was also the first time a side has reached a score in excess of 300 in a WTC final.

The unbeaten 251-run partnership between Smith and Head is Australia's fourth-best stand against India.

By the end of day's play, India had tried their five bowling options in different combinations but failed to make it past the resilient duo. Come the second day, Smith will look to reach his 31st Test hundred, with play set to start at 10:30 local time on Thursday morning.
 
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Expecting After day 2 Australia 553 ao.

Atleast 50 from Cameron Green 🥰
India 99/3 :)) need King Kohli wicket
 
3 quick wickets and everything will change

Australia 432 ao

India 190/3 🤪

Let’s see what happens 🏏
 
gazza619 said:
Ashwin should have played.
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There's definitely a case for him because statistically The Oval is one of the best grounds in the country for spin. The likes of Murali, Swann and others have ran riot here. However that may be because it normally hosts the last Test of the English home summer which is late August when the pitches are drier and more worn.

When the sun is out, the true pace and bounce makes it one of the best batting surfaces in the world so you need an X Factor bowler either in the form of high pace or quality spin.

I despise the cliche but India badly need a strong first hour tomorrow.
 
As an opposition batter when you see that Ashwin isn't playing - that's always a bonus.
 
Indian team is good on rank turners at home and that's how they lift their test rankings everytime to make it to the etc final. They will always be exposed in foreign conditions.
 
Head has developed in to a total beast. He will dominate the Ashes on those flat Bazball tracks.
 
MenInG said:
Highlights of Day 1 (Smith Head partnership)

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 40%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/rk0lfe" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
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Absolutely brilliant partnership on a wicket that at times looked wobbly.
However, at 2:48 .... a 69 meters six? Really? A test match, and that too, a WC final, with a boundary less than 69 meters?

In my opinion, ICC should've picked a venue where boundary was a minimum 75 to 80 meters in ALL directions.

I think, this supposedly "good score" on day one could not be as good as it looks if the boundaries are small.
India may well score just as much if we are playing in tiny grounds.

It's just Day 1 - lots of time left.
If India (when bat) doesn't take the scoreboard pressure and realize that it's a small ground then the match is still wide open IMO.
 
Colorblind Genius said:
Absolutely brilliant partnership on a wicket that at times looked wobbly.
However, at 2:48 .... a 69 meters six? Really? A test match, and that too, a WC final, with a boundary less than 69 meters?

In my opinion, ICC should've picked a venue where boundary was a minimum 75 to 80 meters in ALL directions.

I think, this supposedly "good score" on day one could not be as good as it looks if the boundaries are small.
India may well score just as much if we are playing in tiny grounds.

It's just Day 1 - lots of time left.
If India (when bat) doesn't take the scoreboard pressure and realize that it's a small ground then the match is still wide open IMO.
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That six was behind the wicket
 
If Pant was there, the psychological factor of him being in Aussie heads might have made me more confident of a suitable comeback. That said, Ind-Aus matches have not been one-sided in a long while and so expect some twists to come up. We still have some aces and perhaps some unsung ones. Thakur? :srt
 
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