After an intense battle among the cricketing nations, India and Australia have emerged as the two finalists for the highly anticipated ICC World Test Championship final 2023. The stakes are high as both teams have showcased their prowess in the tournament so far. Notably, India managed to retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia by triumphing in the recent series with a 2-1 victory. However, Sri Lanka's dreams of securing a spot in the final faded away after their defeat in the first Test against New Zealand.
The defending champions, New Zealand, had emerged victorious in the inaugural World Test Championship final held in 2021. Now, all eyes are on the clash between India and Australia as they prepare to battle it out for cricket's ultimate prize. The final will take place at the iconic Oval in London, from June 7th to 11th.
As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the outcome, the burning question arises: Who will emerge victorious in the 2023 ICC World Test Championship Final?
Focus ?
Virat Kohli is getting into the groove ahead of the #WTC23 Final ? pic.twitter.com/6BbS1CcNbN
— ICC (@ICC) June 2, 2023
Contents
Venue- Pitch & Weather Report:
The ICC World Test Championship Final between India and Australia will be held on 7th– 11th June 2023 at the Oval, London. Now let’s take a look at the pitch report and the weather report of the venue for the World Test Championship Final 202.
The iconic Oval cricket ground has hosted the most test matches, offering a balanced setting for batsmen and bowlers. Unpredictable English weather adds uncertainty to the ball-bat dominance. Toss outcomes play a crucial role. Typically, teams choose to bat first due to spin-friendly conditions on the drying pitch's final two days, posing challenges for batsmen against sharp turn, favoring spinners. Fast bowlers, however, face a less favorable record at The Oval due to the absence of lush green surfaces found in other English stadiums.
READ: India squad for WTC Final
June brings early summer to the UK, with temperatures ranging from 18 to 21 degrees Celsius. The warm weather boosts the probability of dry pitches, making it a haven for spinners. The county games preceding the WTC Final result in less green patches and moisture for fast bowlers unless weather conditions dramatically shift to become overcast. In summary, spinners thrive in the dry conditions, while the likelihood of favorable conditions for fast bowlers remains dependent on potential weather changes.
India’s chances at the World Test Championship Final:
After falling short at the inaugural WTC final in 2021, India will look to put their hands on the WTC final mace. Now let’s take a look at India’s chances at the World Test Championship Final.
Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk)
Strength:
The splendid performances of Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill in the IPL are set to uplift Team India's confidence. The contributions of seasoned players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Cheteshwar Pujara will play a pivotal role. Despite Ajinkya Rahane's recent absence from the Test team, his exceptional skills and adaptability to diverse conditions make him a significant asset, particularly in Test cricket. His solid technique has been evident in English conditions. With Rahane showing glimpses in the IPL, his selection will certainly further strengthen the team.
Weakness:
India's prospects are significantly impacted by the injuries to Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant, as their presence would have made India outright favorites. Rishabh Pant's remarkable performances in England, accumulating 556 runs in 9 matches with two centuries and two half-centuries, showcased his prowess. His absence is undoubtedly a setback for the team. Similarly, Jasprit Bumrah's strong track record against Australia and his impressive performances during India's previous tour of England make his absence deeply felt. The unavailability of these two key players creates a void that India will have to navigate in the WTC Final.
Australia’s chances at the World Test Championship Final:
After having a look at India’s chances at the World Test Championship Final, now let’s have a look at Australia’s chances at the World Test Championship Final.
Squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, David Warner
Strength:
Australia enters the WTC Final with their formidable pace trio consisting of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, making them slight favorites. This talented bowling combination will thrive in early June conditions. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will devise plans to tackle each Indian batsman strategically. Additionally, Josh Hazlewood's swing and seam movements further bolster Australia's bowling arsenal.
Weakness:
Australia heavily depends on the run-scoring prowess of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, but the form of other batsmen raises concerns. Although David Warner is a formidable player, his difficulties in England could pose challenges for the Australian team. If India manages to dismiss Smith and Labuschagne early in their innings, it presents an opportunity for them to gain an advantage over Australia.
India vs Australia Head-to-Head:
Over the years, cricket fans have always been treated with high-profile battles and thrilling encounters in India vs Australia test matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. But for the first time, there will be an India vs Australia battle in the World Test Championship Final in 2023. Let’s take a glance at the head-to-head record between the teams over the years.
| India | Australia | |
| Matches Played | 106 | 106 |
| Win | 32 | 44 |
| Draw | 29 | 29 |
| Loss | 44 | 32 |
| Tied | 1 | 1 |
| Home Won | 23 | 40 |
| Away Won | 9 | 14 |
WTC Final Prediction
We now take a look at the WTC Final Prediction of the final. Australia undeniably holds a position of dominance in Test cricket. But in this case, there exists a formidable opponent that consistently gives them a run for their money. That team is none other than India, whose Test side has posed a significant challenge to the Australians since 2014/15. In a rather remarkable turn of events, Australia has been unable to emerge victorious in a Test series against India, both on home soil and in India itself.
In the WTC Final Prediction of the final, we expect India to triumph in the WTC Final Test match. The recent head-to-head record between these two sides and the exceptional performances displayed by Indian players in England, all signs point to India claiming the coveted Test Championship Mace. India’s ability to consistently challenge and outperform Australia in recent Tests serves as a testament to their prowess and determination.
ICC World Test Championship: Ones to Watch
With the top quality talent on both sides, there is a heavy competition between the players to perform against their opponents in their department. Whether it be the batting or the bowling departments, the players will look to outshine their opponents as well as their own teammates, to help their country win the ICC World Test Championship.
Batters
Shubman Gill: Shubman Gill, the rising star of Indian cricket, has been making waves in the international arena with his exceptional batting skills and promising talent. He made his mark in the Under-19 World Cup in 2018, where his batting prowess played a pivotal role in India's triumph. Since then, Gill has seamlessly transitioned into the senior team, showcasing his elegant strokeplay, solid technique, and maturity beyond his years.
With his excellent stroke-hitting ability, Gill has become a key asset for Team India in both Test and limited-overs formats. He is currently enjoying some of his best form on the International stage as well as the IPL. Shubman Gill will now look to take this form into the WTC Final.
Marnus Labuschagne: Marnus Labuschagne, the dynamic star in international cricket, has captured the attention of fans and experts alike with his exceptional batting skills and unwavering determination. Known for his unwavering focus and ability to adapt to various conditions, Labuschagne has quickly become a key player in Australia's batting lineup.
His technique, coupled with his hunger for runs, has resulted in remarkable performances especially in the Tests. This has solidified his position as one of the brightest talents in the game. With an insatiable appetite for success and a hunger to excel, Labuschagne will look forward to helping Australia bring the Test mace home.
India's #WTC23 final dream begins. pic.twitter.com/DgT4QNNuXn
— ICC (@ICC) June 5, 2023
Bowlers
Mohammad Shami: Mohammad Shami is widely recognized for his exceptional skills as a fast bowler. Shami has made a significant impact in international cricket with his ability to generate pace, swing the ball, and consistently trouble batsmen.
With his accuracy and deceptive variations, Shami has become a vital component of India's bowling attack, consistently delivering crucial breakthroughs. He won the Purple Cap in the IPL helping his team to reach the final. Mohammad Shami will have to continue his brilliance with the ball, if India are to have a chance in the WTC Final.
Mitchell Starc: Mitchell Starc is one of the most potent and skillful pacemen in contemporary cricket. With his fiery pace, swinging deliveries, and uncanny ability to generate reverse swing, Starc consistently poses a formidable threat to batsmen around the world.
Renowned for his ability to deliver express pace with pinpoint accuracy, he will surely test the Indian batsmen in the English conditions. The Indian batsmen struggled against the likes of Trent Boult and Neil Wagner, Mitchell Starc is a vital asset for the Australian team in the WTC Final.
