ICC World Test Championship, 7th June
The Australian Test team will reignite its rivalry with India this Wednesday as both sides attempt to claim their first ICC World Test Championship Final at The Oval.
Bet Nation looks at both sides and how they’re shaping up ahead of the one-Test final.
Australia vs. India
Wednesday 7th
Despite recent news of Josh Hazelwood’s injury-forced omission, the Australians enter the match as $1.91 favourites with Bet Nation.
The star paceman has been ruled out due to an ongoing Achilles injury and a side issue, with selectors opting to replace him in the squad with Michael Neser. It is unlikely Neser will play the one-off Test, with Scott Boland likely to get his chance in the world’s best pace attack alongside Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. Boland is more than capable of causing significant damage in England, with a bowling average of 13.42 after seven Tests.
Cameron Green joined the touring party after his IPL heroics for Mumbai, averaging 50.22 on the back of a century and two 50s. While it’s not the ideal preparation for a five-day Test, Green’s recent form with both the bat and ball is enough to frighten the most in-form of Indian attacks. He will join a batting line-up consisting of David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, and Travis Head.
Meanwhile, the Indians will be without Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer as they recover from long-term injuries. However, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara will undoubtedly cause issues for the Aussie bowlers after terrorising them for the best part of a decade.
The Oval will give neither side the home-ground advantage as they prepare for their first match-up at a neutral venue in 76 years. Australia has won just seven of their 38 Tests at The Oval, while the Indians are two from 14.
The Australians, who finished third behind the Indians and inaugural winners New Zealand in the 2019-21 series, sit second on the Test standings following a 2-1 series loss in India earlier in the year. It was a near-perfect 18 months prior to that, with victories over South Africa, West Indies, Pakistan, and England.
After clinching the victory in less than six days, India’s recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph will instil Rahul Dravid’s men with a profound confidence. While Australia bounced back with victory in Indore and a draw in Ahmedabad, it was too little too late as the host nation solidified their spot at the top of the table.
Without the safety net of Indian conditions and their incredibly passionate fanbase, we’re backing the Australians to get the job done as the perfect scene-setter for a five-Test Ashes series.
