Australia v India, a look at the World Test Championship Final

After two years of battling, the World Test Championship will be decided at the Oval in South London. Starting on 7th June, Australia and India will fight it out to see who comes out on top, let’s take a look at the teams and who might have the advantage.

Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Steven Smith (vice-capt), Mitchell Starc, David Warner.

David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (capt). Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

Australia possesses a formidable side on paper, with no specialist batter averaging less than 45, however, few of the side have proven themselves in English conditions. Khawaja and Warner struggled during the 2019 Ashes whilst Green and Carey are yet to play tests in England.

Josh Hazelwood is carrying some injuries so may well miss out on selection, but the quartet of Cummins, Starc, Boland and Lyon, buttressed by some overs from Cam Green, looks incredibly strong having performed well in English conditions previously.

This Australian side has been the best in test cricket over the past few years, regularly able to bowl sides out and punishing most bowling attacks they come across. The depth in batting means they are very rarely dismissed cheaply. Cummins has quietly become a very astute captain, willing to lean on the experience and knowledge around him.

When Australia has come undone in recent times, it has almost always been against India. Both at home and away, the Aussies have struggled to deal with India’s batting and have been made to look foolish by the myriad spinners India is able to utilise.

Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk).

Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat (wk), Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav

Sharma and Gill look like a very solid opening pair for India, with Sharma leading from the front and Gill in the form of his young career. Pujara is churning out runs for fun for Sussex and the experience of Kohli and Rahane makes for a very good middle order. Jadeja at six is a big call in English conditions, but he is certainly capable.

India are lacking an X-factor with their bowling, with Jasprit Bumrah out injured. Shami and Siraj have damaged Australia in the past and the English conditions should suit them. Thakur is a handy swing bowler and Yadav can complement the group with a yard more pace. Jadeja’s role could be one of containment depending on conditions.

India’s side looks very strong on paper, with good balance and plenty of players able to take the game away from the Aussies. If one of Gill or Sharma get going, it could well be game over very quickly.

Whilst very experienced, the Indian middle order looks like a potential issue, Kohli is an all-time great, but his test form in recent years has been bad, whilst Pujara and Rahane are nearing the end of their exceptional careers. If they struggle, India all-rounders could get exposed far earlier than they would like.

For both sides, how they deal with the new ball will be key. If either opening pair is able to get on top early, that could well be enough to see their side to victory. Despite its reputation as a ‘road’ the Oval has been a low-scoring ground in the County Championship this season, so one big innings could be enough.

In Jadeja and Lyon, both teams have excellent spinners, and how they perform could go a long way to deciding this match. With sunny weather predicted, expect the Oval pitch to deteriorate and the later innings becoming more and more difficult to bat on, especially against the canny spinners on offer.

Despite their recent record, Australia is seen as slight favourites, and with their bowling attack perhaps looking more suited to conditions, it is tough to look beyond them as the eventual winners. India is a formidable side, however, and it would be a shock to no one if they did pull off the win which eluded them two years ago.