WTC Final HIGHLIGHTS, IND vs AUS Day 1: Australia 327/3 (85 overs) - Head 146, Smith 95 deflate India on opening day

“Losing the toss this morning, we’ve done exceptionally well. There’s still plenty there as you could see with that second new ball. A lot of hard work to go tomorrow morning but nice to make a really good start. I was trying to make sure I was in really good positions today. I got tested through parts of that. I just tried to work through those periods and be adjustable. It’s nice when you’ve got a bloke at the other end playing as well as he is, it’s a nice start.”

Shami overpitches and Steve Smith closes the day with a sumptuous cover drive for FOUR as Australia takes Day 1 in commanding fashion.

Head 146* (156), Smith 95* (227) at Stumps.

Siraj goes full and Head drills it through point for FOUR. Siraj dips in another delivery on length and Head punches it through mid-on for FOUR more. Runs coming thick and fast.

Shami squares up Head with a length delivery that pitches and shapes away from around the stumps. Fuller delivery and Head dabs the ball past gully for another FOUR.

Siraj cuts past Head with a length delivery and follows up with a fuller ball, duly punched towards Thakur at cover. He saves a certain boundary, releasing only a single. Full and wide and Smith moves into the 90s with a full-blooded drive through cover for FOUR.

Shami is back. The crowd is egging him on and Shami attacks the off-stump, only to have Smith prodding ahead with a solid block. New ball taken before Shami completes a maiden.

Siraj replaces Shardul. 300 UP FOR AUSTRALIA! Siraj sends in a sharp bumper and Head gets an under-edge - the ball just skips past the stumps to Bharat. Close!

Jadeja’s lacking teeth at the moment as Head and Smith easily rotate strike for a slew of singles. Jadeja loops one in and Smith charges and smokes the ball past mid-off for FOUR.

Shardul’s keeping Smith in check with the old ball. The odd one is keeping low and Smith prods even further to negate the low bounce. Maiden.

Jadeja slides one in and Smith works it down to long-on for a single. Head responds with another single. Loopy delivery and Smith drives the ball to long-off for one run. Jadeja keeps one flat and Head attempts a big slog-sweeps and misses.

Shardul goes full and Head pumps the ball over mid-off for FOUR. He switches and comes over the wicket. Slower bumper and Head arches back and nonchalantly upper-cuts the ball over the keeper for FOUR. And Shardul swaps to around the stumps again. The ball keeps low and beats Head’s bottom edge on the way to the keeper.

Jadeja bowls the driving lengths and Smith attempts to drive but Rohit stands in line on a couple of deliveries. He cuts past him for a single and retains strike.

Shardul overpitches but gets away as Smith finds the mid-wicket fielder while easing into a flick. Shardul mixes up with a slower-yorker and Smith does well to dig it out from the blockhole. Maiden.

Jadeja wafts one in and Smith pushes it down the ground for a single. Fraction short from Jadeja and Head rocks back to pump the ball through cover for FOUR - 200-run partnership of 295 balls between Smith and Head. Head forces Jadeja to come around the stumps. He darts one in and finds a sturdy block in response.

Another loosener onto the pads from Shardul and Head flicks it behind square for another FOUR. Shardul comes around the wicket and attempts to cramp him up. Just four from the over.

Jadeja skims through another tight over. India will be desperate to not let a lot of runs flow to the Aussie dugout at the back end of the day.

Head starts off with a single through point that goes off the outside edge. Smith now gets an outside edge off the shoulder of the bat and it falls short yet again of the slip cordon. Hip-high short ball and Head hops and look to pull it but gets a leading edge.

Jadeja comes back. FOUR! A bolt from the blue as Smith steps out and hits the ball high in the air but also gets it over the infield to get a boundary. FOUR! Too full and Smith drives this firmly through extra-cover. Nine runs from the over.

Thakur is back with the ball. Nips one into Smith, who leaves and Thakur oversteps again. Next one is fuller and staighter and Smith digs it out to mid-off. FOUR! Pitched too full and straight and Smith flicks this through midwicket. Similar delivery and similar treatment but just a couple this time. This went squarer. A bit of an inside edge as the ball goes over the stumps.

FOUR! Head stands firm and punches this through the off-side for a boundary. Shami follows it up with a short ball. Head is beaten twice now trying to hook the short ball in this over. Straighter and slightly fuller and driven back to the bowler by Head. Time for Drinks!

WTC Final, IND vs AUS: Travis Head scores first hundred in a WTC final

WTC Final, IND vs AUS: Travis Head scored a century of 106 balls against India at the Oval, his sixth century in whites and the first-ever in a World Test Championship final.

Here comes Siraj again. Around the wicket to Smith now. FOUR! Too full on the pads and Smith clips it through square-leg and beats the fielder in the deep.

Shami will continue. Now Shami darts in a snorter and Head yanks his head away from the line of the ball. He pulls the next one but it goes straight to square-leg after bouncing. Pulled away again and he gets it over square-leg this time for a single and that’s a hundred for Head off 106 balls. FIVE-WIDES! This bouncer is too high and it goes over the keeper for five extras.

Siraj goes short again and Head jumps and looks to cut it but misses. A nasty bouncer and Head fends it away with his gloves and gets a single. Another bouncer, this one to Smith, who ducks under it. It’s called a no-ball for over-stepping though.

Shami beats Smith’s outside edge with an absolute jaffa that shapes away. A sneaky outside edge for Smith through the slips and he’ll steal a couple more. Head moves to 98 with a single off the last ball and keeps strike.

Siraj is back with the ball. He darts in a bouncer to Head first ball. Head tries to evade it desperately. Short again next ball and Head gets on his toes and pulls for a couple of runs. Another short delivery and Head is hit on the helmet as his pull shot takes a top edge. Head gets a single after a routine concussion test. He moves to 97. Smith gets to a fifty off 144 balls after pushing one to mid-on. India on the mat here.

Shami keeps it tight this over, with just a single coming from it. But Smith is rock solid in his defence as just a run away from his fifty.

FOUR! Half-volley from Umesh and Smith drills this down the ground for a boundary. FOUR! This is drifting down leg-side and Smith pounces on it with a flick of the wrists.

Shami comes around the wicket to Head, who gets a first-ball single to bring up 200 for Australia. Smith tucks one off his pads for one more. India will be desperate for a wicket now. FOUR! Bouncer again from Shami and Head uppercuts this to the boundary behind. SIX! This is even better. Another short one, closer to the batter and yet Head manages to make room and uppercut this for a maximum in the same region. Shami changes angles and comes over the wicket to Head. Pushed through point for a single.

Now Umesh starts the over with a boucer and Head once again fails to connect this hook shot. He then punches a length ball through midwicket for a couple. Head flicks this through square-leg for one more. Umesh continues probing Smith in the channel. FOUR! Width outside off and Smith slaps this through cover and point for a boundary.

Shami starts the over with a bouncer and Head only gets a toe-end back to the bowler trying to pull it. FOUR! Width outside off and Head slashes this over the gully fielder and to the boundary. Smith gets an outside edge trying to defend his stumps and it goes to Kohli in the slips on the bounce. Another one that shapes in and this takes Smith’s inside edge for a single at fine-leg. Head tucks one off his hips for a single.

Umesh continues. Probing over so far from Umesh. Gets the ball to seam in and attacks the stumps. Just one run for Head in the over.

Shami is back into the attack. Bowls it wide outside off and the ball swings away further from the keeper. The next one is closer to off-stump and Smith leaves it with nonchalance. Maiden over for Shami.

FOUR! Pitched up outside off and Head drives this with ease through covers. Down leg-side next ball and Head only gets a leg-bye. Back of a length delivery going down leg-side. Smith tries to tuck it behind but misses. Scattered appeal for caught behind. A couple of consecutive deliveries keep surprisingly low. One of them gets Smith on the front pad but it is outside the line of off-stump. Short ball and Smith pulls it to fine-leg for a single.

FOUR! Pitched up from Jadeja and Head creams that through extra-cover. A single for Head brings up the 100-run partnership. Seven runs from the over.

Umesh will continue after the break. Smith is on strike and three slips in place. Maiden over and just one leg-bye coming from it.

Jadeja to bowl the last over before Tea. A couple of dots to start with. Jadeja keeps attacking the stumps. Head leaves one outside off to make it four dots in a row. A single as Head cuts one to cover. Smith defends solidly from the crease. Tea break!

Umesh runs in. FOUR! Head slashes this very hard outside off for a boundary at deep point. He punches one to deep third for one more. Outside edge and safe! Umesh gets the ball to move away from Smith and it takes the outside edge and falls short of the slip cordon.

Probably two overs before Tea. Jadeja to Head. He beats the left-hander first ball as the ball turns in sharply. Head pushes off the backfoot for a single next ball. Smith defends this solidly on off. He then plants his front foot forward and drives straight to mid-on. Just a single from the over.

Umesh continues. He is keeping it full outside off to Smith. Maiden over.

Jadeja will continue. Just a single each for Smith and Head from the over as Jadeja keeps it tight, varying his lengths.

Umesh Yadav comes back into the attack. Looks like a more disciplined second spell. Gets the ball to move away from Smith and then nips one back into him. Maiden over.

Jadeja beats Smith outside off with some exaggerated spin and bounce. Just a single from the over as Jadeja runs through it.

Thakur with the ball. FOUR! Punched through cover-point by Head for a boundary and that’s 50 for him off just 60 balls.

Jadeja beats Head first ball and then induces a leading edge that just falls short of the cover fielder. FOUR! Five dots balls and then Head decides he has had enough. Pitched too full and Head takes a stride forward and drills this through covers.

Just a single from the over from Thakur but nothing to threaten Smith and Head, who are happy leaving outside off and reading the lines well.

Jadeja continues. Head was almost gone! He took a stride forward to defend and it went off the edge and just out of reach of the short-leg fielder. Just a single from the over.

Thakur angles it across to Head, who pokes outside off and misses. Thakur with a strained appeal for caught behind but the umpire is not interested. Thakur looks to challenge the batters with some back of a length stuff but both look comfortable.

Here comes Ravindra Jadeja with the ball. Spin for the first time today. Head cuts one late to deep backward point for a single as Jadeja angles it across to the left-hander on a good length. Pitching on leg and it goes off Smith’s pads and shoots up over short fine-leg. Just two runs from Jadeja’s first over.

Thakur from the other end. Smith gets a single first ball and that’s a 50-run partnership between him and Head. FOUR! Short outside off and Head gets an outside edge and a boundary at third-man. It’s another no-ball for over-stepping. A couple of balls later Thakur oversteps again for the second time in the over and third in the match. FOUR! Beautifully driven through covers by Smith as Thakur goes too full outside off. FOUR! Full on the pads now and Smith flicks this behind square for consecutive fours. Expensive over - 16 runs from it.

Siraj continues after the hydration break. He keeps it between back-of-length and good length. Three dot balls. Make it four as a slightly short one kicks off the surface and gets Head on the ribs. A bouncer next up and Head attempts a wild pull and completely misses the ball. Head defends the last ball solidly and it’s a maiden.

Thakur gives Head a lot of room outside off but the batter slashes and misses. FOUR! Full and clipped away by Smith off the toes and through midwicket. He leaves the last one alone outside off. Time for Drinks!

Here comes Siraj. Smith goes back and tucks one through square-leg for a couple. Just three runs from the over and the Australians will have a drink.

Smith gets a bottom edge that goes to the the wicketkeeper after bouncing. Thakur kept this slow. Thakur continues to keep it full and tests Smith by swinging it both ways. He darts one in very full that gets Smith on his boot but it was going down leg-side.

Change of ends for Siraj. Three dots to start with. Siraj gets the ball to seam into Smith and keeps it on the fuller side. Smith leaves the last of couple of deliveries as they are wide outside off. Maiden over.

Thakur replaces Siraj. He starts his second ball with a no-ball as he oversteps. That was close! Short on the leg-stump. Head looks to defend off the backfoot and the ball takes a leading edge and falls just short of a diving gully fielder. Smith keeps strike with a single.

Head is on the charge here as he smashes Shami for consecutive fours. He first flicks one to the square-leg boundary and then gets one through point.

FOUR! Siraj bowls it too full on the pads again and Head flicks this aerially to the midwicket boundary. Hundred up for Australia in 29.1 overs. Siraj gets one to jag back in sharply and hits Smith on the thigh pad. This one moves in again off the seam and Smith is hit again on the thigh as he misses the pull.

Shami to continue. A scorching nip-backer that just misses off-stump as Smith decides to leave the ball. Shami gets the ball to move in again and it goes off Smith’s pads for one leg-bye. Head gets a single. Australia one run away from a century.

Beaten! Siraj angles this across to Head, who goes for a punch and misses. A bit of width from Siraj outside off and Smith pounces on it with a sweetly timed backfoot punch and gets three. FOUR! Full on the pads and Head nudges it away to the midwicket fence. Head is up and away in a flash.

FOUR! Full and angling down leg-side from Shami. Smith flicks it wide of Bharat and gets a boundary behind. A change in field after that delivery. Gully moves to short third-man. Short, into the body. Smith goes for the pull. There is a bit of excitement among the Indians as they think there might have been a bit of glove. But Rohit doesn’t go up for the review.

Siraj continues. He continues to keep it full outside off-stump. Three dot balls to start the over. He tucks a short-of-a-length ball to fine-leg for a single. FOUR! Head it dealing in boundaries. He punches this through covers for his second four. A short one to end the over.

OUT! Shami strikes first ball after Lunch. Labuschagne is cleaned bowled! The ball seams in prodigiously and beats the batter on the drive. Marnus Labuschagne b Mohammad Shami 26 (62b 3x4 0x6). Shami comes around the wicket to Travis Head. FOUR! Four dot balls later Head is off the mark with a boundary as he pushes a slightly short ball outside off behind point. Missed out on an absorbing first session of play? We have got you covered.

Labuschagne and Smith make their way to the middle for the second session. Three slips and a gully in place. Siraj with the ball. He starts off with a loosener that flies down leg side. It’s called wide as it sails over Smith’s head. The next couple of balls are fuller just outside off-stump. Full on middle and Smith whips it off his pads to fine-leg for a couple. Shami keeps it from going to the boundary with some nimble footwork.

Last over before Lunch. Umesh bowls out a neat over. Just one from it and the players move in for the break. We will be back in about 40 minutes for the second session. Stay tuned!

Shardul to Warner, OUT! Edge and Bharat pulls of as stunner! A quick bumper angling in from around the wicket and Warner attempts to pull but gets some glove on it. The ball falls rapidly and Bharat stretches hard to his right and completes a fine, fine catch. Steve Smith walks in at 4.

David Warner c †Bharat b Thakur 43 (60b 8x4)

Umesh hits the deck and finds some late movement through the channel and Labuschagne finds the line early, leaving the ball on length. Umesh slides one in and Labuschagne flicks it fine for another FOUR.

Shardul is fiddling around with his lengths and Rohit has got the keeper to stand up to the stumps to keep Labuschagne pinned to the crease.

Umesh tightens his lengths this time and Warner is content to play to the merit of the ball. A maiden for the bowler.

Another LBW shout! Shardul slips one in through Labuschagne’s forward prod to hit the pad. Rohit reviews and this time the ball is soaring past leg-stump. India loses a review.

Umesh is wavering on his lengths at the moment. A loosener presents Warner ample room to cut to the deep for a single. But he follows up with a sharp delivery to hit Labuschagne once again on the gloves.

Loud shout as Shardul raps one into Labuschagne’s pads. The umpire is unmoved but Rohit goes up for a review. Umpire’s Call on wickets and Marnus survives.

Decent bounce from Umesh but Warner is ready and gets on top of the ball to slash it through point for FOUR. Back-of-a-length and Warner cuts it with exquisite finesse. Short and angling in and Warner upper-cuts the ball over the cordon for FOUR. Similar line and Warner delicately places it past square for another one. Umesh concedes 15 in the over. FIFTY up for Australia.

Shardul Thakur into the attack. Prodigious seam movement for the Lord as he cuts one past Labuschagne. He goes a touch fuller and Labuschagne nimbly pushes it down the ground for FOUR.

Umesh Yadav replaces Shami. Sharp delivery first-up from Umesh finds an outside-edge from Marnus for a single. This will be an interesting contest against Warner. Umesh overpitches and Warner slaps the ball through cover for FOUR. Fine riposte from Umesh as he goes fuller and seams one sharply past Warner’s outside-edge.

An hour of exhilarating cricket and we have our first break. Dogged work for Warner and Labuschagne to pull the Aussies out from a rut against the tireless Shami and Siraj.

Siraj is into his sixth over now. Siraj errs with a straightener and Labuschagne eases into another flick for three runs. Good chase from Shardul to deny a run.

Shami keeps Warner on his toes as he moves in and shapes it away from length. Short from Shami and Warner slams it front of square for FOUR. . Shami fails to get the desired bounce on that one

Siraj moves in and gets it to shape away past Labuschagne’s bat. The ball keeps low and this is going to be a big test for the batters. BEATEN! Another corker with an outswinging grip kicks up from length and flies past Labuschagne’s hanging bat.

Shami continues into his fifth. A string of outswingers on offer to Marnus. Just a single in the over as he retains strike.

BANG! Siraj stuns Labuschagne with a sharp bouncer and it hits him flush on his right thumb. He throws his bat in pain and is looking in some pain. Interesting to see Marnus stay way out from the crease, perhaps to counter the swing and this one’s picked up from nowhere. The physio is out. And he’s set to continue. Edged! Siraj shapes one away and Labuschagne goes after it and finds a gentle outside-edge to third slip. Siraj straightens his line and Labuschagne flicks the ball through mid-wicket for three runs. Siraj goes full and the ball keeps a tad low as Warner guards his off-stump.

Shami continues. Warner flicks one behind square for a single. CLOSE! Shami squares up Labuschagne with the in-seamer and hits him high on the pads, missing the stumps!

Siraj places a backward short leg for Marnus and slides one in. He flicks it neatly towards mid-wicket and sets off on a quick single. Hint of room and Warner slashes hard and sends the ball over the slip cordon for FOUR. Siraj cramps up Warner and beats the blade with a sharp bouncer. Fuller this time and Warner pushes the ball through mid-on and finds three more runs.

The sun comes out as Shami moves one in to hit Warner on the pads. Loud appeal but the umpire is not interested. The ball moves in a touch too much and is sliding down leg. Shami gets one to move the other way this time and Warner nimbly guides it towards point. Shami overpitches and Warner drives down the ground and reels in three runs. Shami comes over the wicket to Labuschagne and hits one right in the channel outside the off-stump, prompting to Labuschagne to leave the ball late from length.

Three slips in place. Siraj continues to attack the stumps against Khawaja. Siraj to Khawaja, OUT! Edged and GONE! Siraj packs the Aussie opener for a 10-ball duck. Siraj pitches on length and gets it to gently move away from over the wicket, gently kissing on that outside-edge on the way to Bharat. In comes, Marnus Labuschagne. Siraj slides one in quick and Marnus shuffles across and flicks the ball down to fine leg and finds two runs.

Usman Khawaja c †Bharat b Mohammed Siraj 0 (10b)

Crack! Shami seams one in and hits high on Warner’s pads. A touch too high for an lbw shout. Shami follows up with a bouncer and Warner taps it towards cover. Straight and short from Shami and Warner steers the ball through mid-wicket for two runs. Shami follows up with a rip-snorting bouncer past Warner’s hanging blade.

Mohammed Siraj from over the wicket. He starts with a fuller ball outside the off-stump and Khawaja is content with a leave to Bharat. Siraj shortens his length and beats the outside-edge as Khawaja shoulders arms. Siraj’s wavering a bit with his lengths here now, perhaps putting in a little too much than what’s required at the moment. Two maidens on the trot.

Warner on strike. Shami steams in. A hint of shape. Shami not at the peak of his pace as he slides one in. Warner nearly tucks it out towards cover. Another sharp delivery moving in and Warner digs it out. Close! Late movement for Shami from around the stumps and Warner leaves the ball on length. The ball swerves away over the stump and Bharat dives to his right to complete a fine take. Maiden to start the final.

Rohit leads the talk in the huddle before the team disperses out to the field. Usman Khawaja and David Warner walk out for Australia. Mohammad Shami takes the new ball.

Rohit and Cummins lead their respective sides out for the national anthems. Both teams observe a moment of silence for the Odisha train tragedy before the anthems.

Statement from BCCI: The Indian Cricket Team will observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the Odisha train tragedy ahead of the start of play on Day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship final at The Oval. The team mourns the deaths and offers its deepest condolences to the families and friends of all those who tragically lost their lives. To express solidarity with those affected, Team India will wear black armbands.

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

Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

TOSS: India wins Toss, opts to bowl

Rohit Sharma: We are going to bowl. The conditions and also the weather being overcast. The pitch won’t change too much. Four seamers and one spinner. The spinner is Jadeja. It’s always tough (to leave Ashwin), he’s been a match-winner. He (Rahane) brings a lot of experience, he’s played 80-odd Tests.

Pat Cummins: We would have bowled as well. Hopefully day four and five, there’s a bit of spin. You think it suits his (Boland) bowling, he’ll be a key weapon. We’ve been here for about 10 days. Pretty fresh, weather has been nice, we haven’t missed a session, feeling good.

Pitch Report by Kumar Sangakkara: “It’s cold, there’s a bit of wind and it’s overcast. There’ll be swing. There’s a lovely green covering of grass, so there’ll be seam as well. You’ll have very good bounce here.” Win toss and bowl?

• Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins will appear in their 50th Tests at the Oval.
• First Test at the Oval to be played in June since 1880.
• Rohit needs 27 runs to complete 13,000 international runs as an opener.
• Virat Kohli needs 21 runs to complete 2000 Test runs against Australia.

India XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin/Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat/Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj

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

Wicketkeepers: Alex Carey

Batters: Steve Smith (c), Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Travis Head

All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Cameron Green

Bowlers: Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami (vc), Pat Cummins

Team Composition: IND 6:5 AUS Credits Left: 8.5

Sunil Gavaskar calls out the mind games employed by the former Australian cricketers, who have shared their opinions on the Indian team composition.

• India and Australia to share the title in case of draw or tie.
• June 12, 2023 is the reserved day. Can only be used to compensate the loss of playtime due to weather.
• The on-field soft signal by umpires has been scrapped for the WTC final.
• The India vs Australia World Test Championship final will be played using Grade 1 Dukes ball.

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K.S. Bharat, R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, and Ishan Kishan.

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.

On field umpires: Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth | TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough

Fourth umpire: Kumar Dharmasena | Match referee: Richie Richardson

Play Starts at 3:00 PM IST

Rohit vs Cummins, Jadeja vs Labuschagne and more - the key battles that could decide the WTC final.

A selection conundrum that will cause some headaches for Rohit and Co. is the choice of their main wicketkeeper for the final. Former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer weighs in on who between Kishan or Bharat may get the nod this afternoon in London.

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India and Australia Playing Record at the Oval

India has played 14 Test matches at this venue, winning two, losing five and drawing seven of them. The last time India played at The Oval, it won by 157 runs against England in 2021.

Australia has played 38 matches at this venue, winning seven, losing 17, and drawing 14 of them. The last time it played at The Oval, it lost by 137 runs against England in 2019.

India captain Rohit Sharma had a bit of scare on Tuesday morning when he was hit on his left thumb during a nets session. Rohit did not take further part in the session as a precautionary measure before the big Test.

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The ever-changing London weather will be in focus at the Oval even as the forecast predicts a largely clear day.

It has been 10 years since India has won an ICC title. The World Test Championship (WTC) final, which commences here on Wednesday, presents the team a chance to ease itself of this heavy burden.

India will want to make amends for its defeat in the inaugural WTC final held at Southampton in 2021, when New Zealand cruised home by eight wickets in a rain-affected encounter. Australia stands in the way this time around, as India take another shot at redemption.

In Shubman Gill, India boasts of the hottest property in world cricket. Gill had the best of times in the recent IPL, finishing as the highest run-scorer of the tournament. In this calendar year alone, the Punjab batter has scored international centuries in all three formats.

Australia will be double wary of Gill’s flashing blade, given that he has the wood over strike bowler Mitchell Starc. Left-arm seamer Starc has been unable to dismiss Gill in nine Test innings, and has gone for a strike-rate of over 90.

If Gill has become synonymous with big scores, his opening partner and skipper Rohit Sharma is in a slump. The Mumbai opener may not read too much into his IPL form, but he will nervy taking first strike at The Oval.

Mumbai batter Ajinkya Rahane makes his comeback, having last played a Test in January 2022. Rahane reinvented himself as a powerful strokemaker in the IPL, and also found some red-ball form with two centuries in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy.

The vastly experienced Rahane, a veteran of 82 Tests, lends a stable hand in the middle-order.

Cheteshwar Pujara is best prepared to face English conditions, given that he turned out for Sussex in the County Championship over the last two months. Pujara made the most of the experience, hitting three centuries in a successful stint.

Virat Kohli, the captain in the Southampton outing, will want to correct his sub-par record in England.

The star batter managed only 249 runs in the five Tests against England when India last toured here, at an average of 27.66. Kohli can take solace in the fact that the last time India met Australia in a Test, he stole the show with a brilliant 186 in Ahmedabad.

The dependable K.S. Bharat is set to keep his place as the wicketkeeper in the eleven, ahead of Ishan Kishan.

With the overcast skies and seamer-friendly pitch, India will be tempted to play four fast bowlers in Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur. Umesh, prone to spraying the ball around while striving for extra pace, could come good when reverse swing is on offer in the latter stages of the match.

R. Ashwin could be picked over left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, as that the off-spinner offers a better match-up option to the four southpaws in the likely Australian batting unit.

Australia will be desperate to see David Warner turn and corner. Giving Warner company in the fight against the new ball is comeback man and form batter Usman Khawaja.

Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, the No. 1 and No.3 ranked batters in the world respectively, form a strong middle-order core. Speedster Scott Boland, who has taken 28 wickets in his first seven Tests, has earned his spot over Michael Neser.

The settled Australian line-up picks itself, and looks the stronger side on paper. But India, the top-ranked Test side, will not go without a fight.

- Ashwin Achal

The India vs Australia World Test Championship final will be shown live on Star Sports and streamed live on Disney+Hotstar from 3 PM IST.