Australia vs. India:  The upcoming clash between India and Australia at The Oval in London for the ICC World Test Championship final is shrouded in uncertainty. Despite being the top-ranked team in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team rankings, neither squad has had much success at the venue, leaving the outcome of this high-stakes encounter up in the air.

Adding to the intrigue is that these two teams have recently gone head-to-head in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India, where the hosts emerged victorious with a 2-1 series win. However, India will face an uphill battle as they grapple with the absence of several key players.

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Australia vs India: The challenge at The Oval 

Behold! A single domain of competition that has long plagued both the cricketing giants of India and Australia with an abysmal track record. Throughout 38 grueling test matches, the Australian cricket team has only emerged victorious on a paltry seven occasions. Not to be outdone, the Indian cricket team has suffered even more miserably, securing two wins.

However, the tides of fate have recently bestowed a bountiful boon upon both sides, granting them a resounding triumph to boast of on this hallowed battleground proudly. In the year of our Lord, 2021, India unleashed a crushing defeat upon England, winning by a staggering margin of 157 runs at the illustrious Oval. This was a monumental moment for the Indian cricket team as it marked their first-ever triumph on this venue in a staggering 40 years!

Meanwhile, the Australian cricket team had previously claimed their notable victory at this iconic location, securing a magnificent win by innings and 46 runs in 2015. This impressive feat was spearheaded by the legendary Steve Smith, who claimed the Player of the Match award for his masterful performance, including a sublime knock of 143 runs.

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Australia vs. India: Players

The records of some players in the upcoming WTC23 final at The Oval are mind-blowing! Smith, for instance, has an overseas batting record at the venue that is simply astounding, with an average of 97.75 across three Tests. This places him among the top five batters who have batted at least five times at the venue.

Interestingly, another player from that list is involved in the final, albeit from the sidelines. Dravid, India’s head coach, boasts an even better record at The Oval, with a jaw-dropping batting average of 110.75, including a double century, a century, and a fifty.

Sadly, India will miss the likes of Rahul and Pant, who have also enjoyed success at this venue. However, their skipper Rohit Sharma made a heroic contribution in the form of his first overseas Test hundred in 2021 at The Oval, scoring a resilient 127 in the second innings that helped India clinch a vital victory over England in the fourth Test of the series. This victory gave India a crucial 2-1 lead in the away Test series.

And it’s not just the batters who have shone at The Oval. Mitchell Marsh, who made a comeback to the Test side for the WTC final and The Ashes, has also had a great time at the venue, taking a five-wicket haul against England in 2019.

This feat makes him the only Australian or Indian bowler to have achieved a five-for at The Oval since Warne’s impressive 12-wicket match haul in the 2005 Ashes series. 

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Australia vs. India: High & Lows

In 2014, India suffered a massive loss when they were bowled out for just 94 runs in a Test match at The Oval. Similarly, in 1952, the Indian team was dismissed for a mere 98 runs in another Test match that ended in a draw at the same venue.

India had to wait for two drawn matches and a loss by an inning at The Oval before finally securing a victory in 1971. It took them 40 more years to claim another significant win at this venue during a crucial moment in their bilateral series against England in the previous World Test Championship cycle.

On the other hand, the Australian team is facing concerns over the performance of their leading bowler in the WTC cycle at The Oval. Despite being the top wicket-taker in the WTC cycle with 83 wickets, Nathan Lyon’s performance at The Oval has been below average. He has only taken nine wickets in his three Tests at this venue, with an innings best of 4-69 and an average of 30.77.

In contrast, the Australian team’s current batting mainstay, Smith, has been prolific at The Oval, amassing 391 runs in just five innings across three Tests, including two centuries. He also has one of this venue’s highest batting averages among overseas players.

FAQ’s

Who will play World Test Championship final in 2023?

The upcoming 2021-2023 World Test Championship (WTC) Final between rivals Australia and India is set to begin on June 7th in London.

Where will WTC final be played in 2023?

The World Test Championship final 2023 will be held at the Oval in London. At what time will play begin for the WTC final 2023? IND vs. AUS will commence at 02:30 pm (IST) every match day for the World Test Championship final.

What is the rank of India in the ICC Test 2023?

Per the latest Test rankings released by ICC on May 2nd, 2023, India, with a 121 rating, is placed at the top of the points table. Australia, with a 116 rating, is in the second spot.