WTC Final HIGHLIGHTS, IND vs AUS Day 2 Stumps: India 151/5 (38 overs); Rahane wages lone battle as India in deep trouble

Australia will be pretty happy at the conclusion of the day’s play. Smith and Head continued where they left off yesterday reaching their century and 150, respectively, early in the day. The Indian bowlers though picked them up quickly giving the team some hope. Alex Carey scored a quick fire 48 to help Australia to 469.

In reponse, India began well with Rohit and Gill showing intent. But the Australian bowlers attacked the stumps with precision. Cummins got the captain LBW with a ball that jagged back in. Boland got Gill to leave one that seamed in to hit top of off. Pujara followed suit leaving a delivery from Green that seamed in and struck off-stump.

Kohli was forced to play at a back of a length ball from Starc, but the extra bounce led the ball to catch the bat’s shoulder and nestle into Steve Smith’s hands at slip. Rahane and Jadeja looked to build a partnership, but Nathan Lyon got one to spin and bounce to take his edge and Smith at slip made no mistake.

India look in deep trouble and will hope the current pair can add as many runs as they can tomorrow morning to stay in the game. Stay tuned and follow our live updates from Day 3 of the final tomorrow.

Starc to continue. Length ball angles away, left alone by Bharat. Shorter one towards Bharat and hits him flush on the elbow. The batters take two legbyes after the ball rolls past the slip fielders. Bharat being tended to by the physios. Starc continues with one full and outside off. Bharat drives and misses. Back of a length on the body and Bharat defends to short mid-wicket. Starc with a shorter one outside off. Left alone by Bharat. Last ball of the day and Bharat guides it to point for a couple. STUMPS.

Boland back into the attack. Starts off with a length ball outside the stumps which Rahane leaves. Rahane cuts a shorter and wider one through point for a single. Fuller and on off-stump line for Bharat, defends it on the off-side. Shorter one angled at the body, catches Bharat on the gloves due to the extra bounce. Batters sneak in a single.

Starc to continue. Full delivery defended on the on-side by Rahane. Rahane leaves the next one short and wide outside off stump. Full on the pads, Rahane whips it on to the leg side but will get only a single. Very full on off stump and Bharat guides it towards point for an easy couple to get off the mark. Last ball, little shorter on off stump, defended to cover.

Lyon stars with one outside off stump. Defended to backward point. Rahane turns the next one to the leg side for a single. Wicket!! Lyon gets Jadeja caught at slip. Off spinner from Lyon as Jadeja looks to defend. Turn and bounce inducing the edge and Smith makes no mistake. Bharat in for India and he defends the first ball to cover off the back foot. Bharat drives the next one on the on-side. Rahane interested in a single but is turned back.

R Jadeja c Smith b Lyon 48(51) [4s-7 6s-1]

Starc is in. Four!! Short and on off stump, Jadeja guides it between slip and gully for four. Starc angles it in. Jadeja whips it through midwicket for a couple. Close!! Starc induces the edge but the balls goes between the slip fielders and to the boundary for four. Attempted yorker from Starc but it is down leg-side. Left alone. Jadeja drives the back of a length delivery past the bowler and the batters run two.

Lyon into the attack. Just two singles to square leg from the over so far. Lyon bowls one short and Rahane pulls to make it three singles.

Boland to continue. Back of length on off-stump and Rahane defends it behind square. Shorter and outside the off-stump from Boland and Rahane shoulders arms. Boland gets one to angle in to Rahane’s thighs. Stifled appeal from the fielding team but it was too short. Another one slanting in Rahane dabs it behind square to bring up 50 partnership. Four!! Jadeja drives the fuller one through the covers for four.

Green to Jadeja and he defends it on the off side. Four byes!! Bouncer from Green, climbs up above the batter and the keeper to find the boundary. Full from Green and Jadeja defends to cover again. Similar deliveries from Green to end the over. Only the four byes conceded.

Boland to continue and Rahane greets him with a solid defensive block. Four!! Lovely drive through the covers from Rahane after Boland pitches it up. Rahane defends the next two onto the on side.

Appeal!! The slip cordon goes up in appeal after the ball hit Rahane’s helmet off Green’s bowling. No bat confirms ultra edge. Rahane being tended to after the hit. Green with a back of a length ball onto the body. Rahane defends to the on-side with a short arm jab. Short from Green and Rahane pulls it straight to square leg for a single. Another short one outside off that Jadeja leaves.

Close!! Boland beats the bat with a jaffa outside off stump. The ball looked to be angling in but seamed away beating the bat. Six!! Jadeja responds with a huge six. The ball was on the pads and Jadeja picked it up to send it over the ropes. Good response from Boland as he manages to take one away from the batter and angle two balls in to the body, which Jadeja doesn’t get bat on.

Four!! Jadeja starts with a drive down the ground against Green. Cummins with the chase but he unable to prevent a boundary. He leaves the next one short and wide of off stump. On the pads, and Jadeja clips it to fine-leg for a single. Three dots to end the over.

Boland returns. Short ball angling in and Rahane swats it out of trouble on the on-side. Spotless from Boland. Another maiden.

Green hits the deck hard and extracts some decent bounce and movement away from Jadeja. 100 up for India as Jadeja reels in two runs.

Cummins overpitches and Rahane attempts to slice it but finds the point fielder. Just the one run from it. DRINKS.

Starc overpitches and Jadeja spanks it past mid-off for FOUR. Starc lines one towards the pads and Jadeja flicks the ball with disdain behind square for another FOUR.

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Cummins overpitches and Rahane slices the ball through point for FOUR. Rapped on the pads, OUT! The umpire raises the finger as Cummins brings one in sharply to hit Rahane flush on the pad. Rahane reviews and the replays suggest that it’s a NO BALL! That’s some stroke of luck for Jinks. Another length delivery and it rises to hit Rahane’s right thumb. He immediately takes off his gloves to have a look

Full and angling in from Starc and Jadeja thumps it past mid-on for FOUR. Starc shapes one in and hits the pad as Jadeja swings the bat across the line. Loud shout but the ball is swinging down leg.

Cummins slides one and Jadeja concedes another leading-edge through cover for two runs. CLOSE! Loud shout as Cummins freezes Jadeja with a sharp inswinging delivery onto the pads. The umpire is unmoved. Cummins lines up one towards the pads and Jadeja tucks it down to fine leg for a single.

Starc to Kohli, OUT! Bumped him out! The ball kicks up from out of nowhere to shun Kohli. He flails his bat and the outside-edge flies high but Smith puts in a fine leap to hold onto it. Massive jolt for India.

Ravindra Jadeja’s in at 6. IN THE AIR! Leading edge as Jadeja attempts to flick Starc a touch too early on and the ball thankfully flies over the gully region.

Virat Kohli c Smith b Starc 14 (31b 2x4)

Cummins returns. Fine line of attack once again and Rahane leans forward to defend. The ball is undergoing a hoop test from the umpires and we have a hold-up in play. The ball is being replaced. Short ball from Cummins and Rahane hooks with control in front of square for FOUR. Beaten all ends up! Cummins tightens his line and cuts the ball past Rahane’s bottom edge to the keeper. Close.

Starc returns. Full and wide and Kohli leans into a glorious cover drive for FOUR. Starc slides one in and Kohli hangs his bat over his thighs to flick and find a single.

Green overpitches and Rahane crunches the ball through extra cover for three runs. A single to follow. Green attempts to slide one and Rahane chips it towards mid-on.

Boland continues to probe Kohli’s defence and he continues to prod forward to defend. Short and wide. Rahane unleashes the upper-cut over the cordon for FOUR.

Green tucks one in and Kohli offers a solid block. Shorter length and Kohli flicks the ball down to fine leg for a single, 50 up for India. Green to Pujara, OUT! Knocked him over. The wobble does the trick once again as it moves back sharply after pitching and hinting to move away. Pujara leaves the ball on length and watches on as the ball smacks the stumps. Massive wicket for Australia.

Ajinkya Rahane is in at 5

Cheteshwar Pujara b Green 14 (25b 2x4)

Boland attempts to pin Pujara down. Pujara blocks out the fuller ball before Boland sends in a steep bouncer. Beaten! Boland touches fuller outside the off-stump and whizzes past Pujara’s outside-edge. Maiden.

Cameron Green into the attack. Sharp line of attack. Pujara attempts to flick and open the face of the bat but finds the fielders. Crack! A superb square drive from Pujara as he picks the back-of-a-length ball in a flash and rocks back to punch the ball firmly through the off-side for FOUR. He retains strike with another single.

Boland resumes the attack. A rare loosener onto the pads and Pujara leans forward and flicks the ball through mid-wicket for FOUR. On to the pads once again and Pujara flicks through square and finds a single.

Kohli and Pujara walk back out to the middle as the Aussies return after Tea.

Cummins starts with a bouncer to Kohli, who ducks under it. Five dot balls in a row as Kohli defends solidly. Leaves the last ball before Tea and it’s a maiden over to end the second session.

Boland continues. He is testing Pujara’s outside edge by keeping it in the channel consistently. Pujara is poking outside off a bit tentatively. Four dots in a row now. Pujara gets a couple with a flick through midwicket as Boland goes full on the stumps.

Cummins to continue. Pujara defends this back of a length delivery outside off-stump. He lets the next one go. Pujara is off the mark with a single as he fends a short one away through square-leg. Kohli defends solidly in front of the stumps. FOUR! Very lucky for Kohli. He was looking to leave this delivery but it went off the inside edge and over stumps.

Cheteshwar Pujara is in next and India will need another fighting innings from him now. Boland will continue. Gill defends the first couple of balls on the front foot. Boland continues keeping it very straight on the stumps and Gill defends on the front foot with ease. OUT! Gill leaves this but the ball jags back in from outside off to knock his stumps over. Shubman Gill b Boland 13 (15b 2x4). Virat Kohli is greeted with a delivery that keeps low outside off and he defends it. Maiden wicket.

Cummins steams in. Short and Gill jabs through square-leg for a couple. FOUR! This is pulled away with disdain to the midwicket fence. Good length on off and Gill defends it back to Cummins. Gill flicks this off the backfoot behind square-leg for one more. OUT! Rohit is trapped in front, given out by the on-field umpire and he walks back without reviewing. This nipped into him and it looked very straight. Rohit Sharma lbw b Cummins 15 (26b 2x4).

Scott Boland replaces Starc. Boland off with a good length delivery outside off that seams in a bit and Rohit lets it go. Four dots in a row as Boland keeps it in the channel on a good length. A crisp drive from Rohit but it is stopped by mid-off. Beaten! Rohit looks to cut this and misses. Maiden over.

Cummins continues. Rohit turns one off his pads for a single behind and it is called leg-byes. Three dots in a row to end the over.

A half-hearted pull this from Rohit and this goes to fine-leg, where Boland misfields but still keeps it to a couple. Beaten! Full outside off and beats Rohit’s outside edge. FOUR! Full and very wide outside off and Rohit gets enough bat on it to squeeze it behind point for a boundary. Rohit pushes another full delivery outside off through covers for two more. Half-volley again outside off and Rohit pushes it for a single.

Pat Cummins from the other end. On a length outside off and Rohit shoulders arms. A short-leg is in place and he keeps into play straightaway as Rohit flicks this good length delivery straight to him. Rohit is happy leaving deliveries in the channel. One seams in a bit but it is still well clear of off-stump. Short and Rohit hooks this to fine-leg for a single. FOUR! Glorious cover-drive from Gill as he leans into the shot. It is also a no-ball for over-stepping. Slightly shorter this one and Gill carves it away behind point for two more.

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are set to open the innings for India. The Australian team in a huddle. Will the Indian opening duo stand the Aussie pace test? We’ll know shortly. Starc will bowl the first over. Three slips and a gully in place for Rohit, who will take strike. A bouncer to start with and Rohit takes evasive action. FOUR! Swivel and pulled away by Rohit to the square-leg fence. This is angling away and finishing on off-stump and Rohit takes his front foot forward to defend. Full, shaping in a bit from off-stump and Rohit defends it back to the bowler. He tucks the next one off his hips for a single. Gill leaves the last ball of the over.

Cummins swings his bat at this fuller Siraj delivery but it is stopped at mid-on. Short of a length on the stumps and Cummins defends off the backfoot. OUT! Slower one outside off and Cummins swings for the fences again but it goes straight to Rahane at extra-cover. Pat Cummins c Rahane b Siraj 9 (34b).

Jadeja to continue. Another maiden over as Jadeja keeps it full to Boland.

Siraj replaces Umesh. FOUR BYES! Short, Lyon misses the pull and the ball goes over Bharat and to the boundary. OUT! Bowled him. This was a half-volley on the stumps and Lyon missed trying to heave this away. Nathan Lyon b Siraj 9 (25b 1x4). That’s fifty wickets for Siraj in Tests. Boland is the last man in and is off the ball with a single straightaway.

Jadeja will continue. Keeps it consistently on the stumps to churn out another maiden over.

FOUR! Lyon punches this Umesh delivery through covers for a boundary. A loud LBW appeal next ball but this was going down leg-side probably. Another well-timed shot from Lyon, who flicks this back of a length delivery behind square-leg for a couple. A single for Lyon to end the over.

Another neat over from Jadeja as just a single comes from it.

Umesh will continue. Cummins takes a single first ball at point. Lyon defends firmly before being beaten outside off with one that keeps a touch low. He is off the mark with a single through square-leg. Cummins goes for the pull but it takes the bottom edge and hits him on the pads. A bouncer to end the over.

Ravindra Jadeja into the attack for the first time today. Starts with a fuller one and Cummins drives it down the ground for a single. Beaten! This just misses Carey’s outside edge before the ball pops out of Bharat’s gloves. SIX! Carey steps out next ball and launches this over long-on. Carey brings out the reverse-sweep next ball and misses. India goes up for the LBW review. OUT! Great review as this is hitting off-stump. Jadeja strikes! Alex Carey lbw b Ravindra Jadeja 48 (69b 7x4 1x6). Nathan Lyon comes in and defends the last two balls of the over.

Umesh starts off with a yorker to Cummins but it is dug out with ease. Inside edge past the stumps for Cummins and just a single. A couple for Carey as he flicks one to deep backward square-leg. Crucial runs for Australia as the partnership swells to 44. Umesh beats Carey’s outside edge with a beauty to end the over.

Shami continues. Starts off with a yorker length delivery to Carey, who digs it out to mid-off. FOUR! Streaky boundary for Carey as this goes off the outside edge and just beats the slip fielder. Angling in and from around the wicket and jagging in. Carey gets an inside edge onto his pads. FOUR! Shami errs on the fuller side again and Carey flicks this off his pads for a boundary behind deep square-leg. Shami continues keeping it full to Carey, despite leaking some runs. FOUR! Full on the pads again and clipped through midwicket by Carey for another boundary.

Umesh continues and beats Carey’s attempted backfoot punch by angling it away outside off and making it bounce a bit extra. Swinging away and this beats Carey’s outside edge outside off. A bit of a bottom edge here as Carey defends this one closer to off-stump. Just a single from the over as Cummins leaves the last ball outside off.

Shami from the other end. Going down leg-side and swinging away and Bharat completes a brilliant take diving to his left. Full on off-stump and Cummins drives it back to the bowler. Full on the pads and Cummins flicks this through midwicket and collects three. FOUR! Too full again on the pads and Carey whips this through midwicket for a boundary. Carey clips one off his pads for a single at fine-leg and keeps strike.

The umpires are out for the second session and so are the players. Umesh Yadav with the ball. Carey on strike. Two slips and a gully in place. Carey starts off by blocking a delivery on the stumps back to the bowler. Carey goes for an expansive drive outside off and misses. He connects the drive next ball but finds the extra-cover fielder. Beaten! This one stays low outside off and Carey pokes and misses. Beaten again outside off as Carey looks to slash this one. Maiden over after Lunch.

Shami replaces Thakur for the last over before Lunch. Carey starts off with a couple of dots. But he has overstepped and that will be a no-ball. He is keeping it full and on the stumps to Carey. Three half-volleys this over so far and Carey hasn’t been able to put them away. Fourth one is short but wide outside off and Carey is happy to leave it alone. Pushed to cover by Carey for a single. Cummins to face the last ball before Lunch. Beaten outside off, a half-hearted appeal for caught behind and that will be Lunch. A good session for India, with four wickets coming at the cost of 95 runs. Smith and Head started the day positively, getting to their hundred and 150, respectively. But Siraj, Shami, Thakur picked a wicket each before Axar Patel effected a brilliant run-out to make it four for India in the first session. Still, Australia is on top and India will need to ensure the tail doesn’t wag. We’ll be back for the second session at 5:40 PM IST. Stay tuned!

Siraj goes for the short ball ploy for Carey. He darts in a bouncer but it is called wide. Short again next ball but this is straying down leg-side. A leg-slip in place now. FOUR! This is full and on the stumps and Carey makes room and slices this through gully for a boundary. Short next ball and Carey fends this off with his gloves on leg-side. FOUR BYES! Siraj comes around the wicket to Cummins. Looks to intimidate Cummins with a short one but this is going down leg again and Bharat misses it too. Another short ball down the leg-side to end the over.

Carey takes a single off the first ball as Thakur continues. Cummins still isn’t off the mark after nine balls. Make it 10 as the is beaten comprehensively trying to drive wide outside off. Thakur pitches it closer to off-stump this time and Cummins leaves. He is finally off the mark with a couple as he pushes a fuller delivery through midwicket to end the over.

Siraj will continue. Carey pulls a short one to deep square for a single. With that single, Siraj has now conceded 100 runs in what is his 26th over. Siraj comes around the wicket to Cummins for the final delivery, who goes down leg-side.

Thakur starts off with a wide one outside off that swings away further on the way to the keeper. More uneven bounce! This ball shot up from a good length and Cummins cops it on his right shoulder. FOUR LEG-BYES! This was angling down leg-side and it goes off Cummins’ pads and beats the keeper on the way to the boundary.

Siraj is back into the attack. Over the wicket to Starc. A couple of singles to start the over as Siraj keeps it on the shorter side and into the body. Beaten! Siraj angles it across and Starc is beaten on the drive. Beaten again! This was pitched on leg-stump and it angled across, whizzing past Starc’s outside edge. OUT! Starc is run out with a direct-hit at the non-striker’s end. He pushed to ball to mid-off and took off for a single. Substitute fielder Axar with a brilliant throw and Australia is seven down. Mitchell Starc run out (sub [Axar Patel]) 5 (20b). Pat Cummins is the new man in.

Carey defends a fuller ball outside off stump. Thakur keeping it tight with short of good length balls angled at the body. Carey tucks one behind square for a single. Starc drives the following ball to the fielder in the deep, square on the off-side for a single.

Four byes as the ball wheezes past a diving Bharat after Yadav bowled one way down leg side. Short on the body again as Carey steers it for a single. Starc misses a cut and lets the next one go. Single of the last ball as Starc guides it to the offside.

Thakur with a short ball into the body, Carey defends back to the bowler. Carey dabs the ball to third-man, a chance for a second but the batters decide against it. Thakur keeps it full and angling outisde off stump, finds the inside edge onto the pads as Starc looks to defend. Angled into the pads from Thakur and Starc fends it to the fielder in the deep for a single. A dab in front of square from Carey for a single as he keeps strike.

Yadav to Carey, a single to mid-on to bring Starc on strike. Two balls outside offstump as Starc plays and misses. A third play and miss from Starc to finish the over.

First ball from Thakur and Steve Smith is bowled. Smith looks to poke at a delivery outside offstump and the inside edge goes straight to the stumps. Important wicket for India as they look to bundle out the Aussies quickly. Starc in next. A waft outside offstump from the left hander but the ball flies to the keeper. Five dots to round out the over from Thakur.

Steve Smith b Thakur 121(268) [4s-19]

Umesh Yadav back after drinks and the third ball breezes past Smith’s shoulder. A close call in the next ball as Carey puts in a full length dive at the striker’s end after a quick single to short cover. Four!! A streaky boundary for Carey as the ball catches his inside edge and flies to the boundary.

A hint of room for Carey as Shami sprays one outside the off-stump. He opens the face of the bat and guides the ball past the slip cordon for FOUR. LOUD SHOUT as Shami slides one in and hits the pad. Is that a touch too high? Umpire Gaffaney denies a wicket. Surprisingly, India does not take a review! That looked close. Action replay and Rohit signals for a review? Or wait, it seems like he hasn’t. Dramatic few moments before DRINKS.

Umesh Yadav replaces Siraj. Umesh hits the blockhole and Carey digs it out. A hint of swing as Umesh strays down leg an Carey gets away with a leg bye. Rohit places a short mid-on, mid-wicket and wide slip for Smith. Two overpitched deliveries to follow and Smith blocks them out.

Shami to Green, OUT! Taken! Sixth-stump line from Shami and Green hangs his blade away from his body. Thick outside-edge and Gill latches onto a sharp catch at second slip. Alex Carey is in at 6. Shami greets him with a fuller ball angling in from around the stumps.

Cameron Green c Shubman Gill b Mohammed Shami 6 (7b 1x4)

Siraj shuns Smith with a bouncer and the ball clips the outside-edge and trickles down past the slip cordon for FOUR. Straighter this time and Smith wriggles his way out of it with a flick of the wrist and there’s another FOUR through the square-leg region.

Shami continues to needle Smith’s off-stump. Smudge finds his different ways to avert the danger. Shami gently straightens his line and nearly squares up Smith who manages a leading-edge.

Siraj to Head, OUT! The short-ball ploy works, finally. Siraj hits the deck hard and Head attempts to shuffle and guide the ball down leg but gets a faint nick on the way to the keeper.

The crowd has found its voice again as Cameron Green walks in. Wide delivery and Green’s off the mark with a cut past point for FOUR.

Travis Head c †Bharat b Mohammed Siraj 163 (174b 25x4 1x6)

Another bumper and Head dismisses the ball from his presence with a fiery pull for FOUR. Shami attempts another bouncer and Head sheepishly directed it towards short fine leg. Shami overpitches and Smith cashes in this time with another cover drive for FOUR.

Siraj freezes Head with a quick bumper and the ball lobs out towards the vacant point region. Short but not short enough and Head pummels the ball through square-leg for FOUR. IN THE AIR and the ball falls in between mid-wicket and mid-off! Siraj nearly nails the perfect bouncer as Head flails to send a top-edge to the on-side. Rohit cannot make up ground from mid-off and a chance goes begging.

Room from Shami and Head slices it down to third for FOUR. 150 up for Travis Head! He follows up with a single. Shami runs in with a seemingly longer run-up to Smith and shapes the ball from length. Shami tails one in and Smith clips it deep square-leg for a single.

Siraj continues to pepper Smith with a straighter line of attack. He follows up with a quick bumper, collected safely by Bharat. Fuller ball and Smith drives it towards mid-off, no run.

Shami hits his strides first-up. Head and Smith stand tall and fend off the incoming deliveries from the relatively newer ball.

Visiting batters with most Test hundreds in England

11 - Sir Don Bradman
7 - Steve Waugh
7 - Steve Smith
6 - Rahul Dravid
6 - Gordon Greenidge

WTC Final, IND vs AUS: Steve Smith hits 31st Test hundred, equals Joe Root’s record for most tons against India

Australian batter Steve Smith scored his ninth test century against India and his seventh in England in the WTC final at the Oval.

Mohammed Siraj to start the attack on Day 2. Head’s on strike. Siraj starts with a bumper and Head tucks it fine for two runs. Siraj slides one in and Smith flicks it through mid-wicket for FOUR. FOUR more! 31st Test ton for Steven Smith! 7th in England and third at the Oval. Similar lines and Smith cashes in with some flair. LOUD SHOUT! Siraj’s fired up and he sends in a perfect wobble seam delivery that cuts in late and hits Smith high on the pad. Ripper! Siraj whizzes one past the outside-edge, nearly squaring up Smith past the off-stump.

India takes the field as Steve Smith and Travis Head walk out to the middle.

Steve Smith is closing in on his third century at the Oval in six innings since 2013. On 95 not out, will the Indians manage to pack him before the milestone?

Steve Smith at the Oval: 138*, 7, 143, 80, 23, 95* (this Test)

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Australian greats Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting have slammed India’s decision to drop premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for the World Test Championship final against Australia.

Not for the first time, India erred with its team composition to let the advantage slip on a big occasion. On a day when the sun shone brightly for the most part, India left out ace spinner R. Ashwin. The off-spinner watched from the sidelines even as The Oval pitch provided a tempting fare of uneven bounce.

A tenacious Australian batting line-up made the most of the miss, moving to a comfortable 327 for three at the end of the first day of the ICC World Test Championship final in London on Wednesday.

Ashwin’s absence hit home when Umesh Yadav, his replacement in the eleven, was handled with ease. Umesh, who came into the attack at first change, deflated the pressure built until this point, conceding four boundaries in his second over. It was a forgettable day for Umesh, who delivered 14 unimpressive overs without taking a wicket.

Ashwin, the top-ranked Test bowler in the world, has made a habit of working batters out. While success is not guaranteed, Ashwin, at a minimum, would have posed some tough questions to the batters. Ashwin’s impressive record against left-handers - Australia has no less than four southpaw batters - adds more weight to his case.

​HIGHLIGHTS, WTC FINAL DAY 1​

The selection gaffe was reminiscent of the events that unfolded in the 2021 WTC final against New Zealand.

Despite having the chance to change the eleven after the first day’s play was washed out at Southampton, India stuck to fielding two spinners. New Zealand, taking cognisance of the obvious seamer-friendly conditions, played five pacers. It came as no surprise when the Kiwis romped home by eight wickets.

At the Oval, Travis Head made the Indians pay. Head, given the license to go for his shots, raced to a 156-ball 146. The southpaw timed the ball exceptionally well, cutting and driving with authority. When he got settled in, Head used the uppercut to pepper the third-man region.

Head reached his century in 106 deliveries, with a hook off Shami. In the nineties, Head was severely tested by a barrage of bouncers from Siraj and Shami, but lived to fight another day.

Head thrived in the company of Steve Smith, who continued his dream run at this venue. Smith moved to within striking distance of recording his third century in four outings here. Smith and Head dominated the final session, scoring boundaries at will to run the Indians ragged.

In the morning session, Mohammed Siraj nicked off Usman Khawaja (0) to give India a good start. Siraj’s new ball partner Mohammad Shami was a tad short with his length, which allowed David Warner to sit on the back foot. Warner, who has struggled for runs, worked his way into form with a 60-ball 43. Warner fell against the run of play, gloving a long hop from Shardul Thakur to wicketkeeper K.S. Bharat.

Shami corrected his length after Lunch and gained immediate success. Marnus Labuschagne (26, 62b, 3x4) played all over a full floater which dipped in and took out the stumps. It was a shocker from Labuschagne, who left a massive, fatal gap between bat and pad.

Australia will be mighty pleased to emerge from a tricky situation unscathed. For India, there could be more long days in store.

- Ashwin Achal

Day Two of 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.