Tag: WTC final

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday sanctioned both Australia and India with hefty fines for slow over rates during the World Test Championship (WTC) Final.

India slipped to defeat on day five of the WTC Final, losing by 209 runs to an inspired Australia in south London.

And it was confirmed shortly after the conclusion of the match on Sunday’s final day that India will lose all of their match fees for their slow over rate, with Australia also docked 80 percent of their match fees.

India were ruled to be five overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration, while Australia were found to be four overs short. In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, players are fined 20 per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

India’s Shubman Gill will also face a further sanction for appearing to criticise the decision to give him out on the fourth day of the Test, breaching article 2.7 which relates to public criticism or inappropriate comment in relation to an incident occurring in an international match.

The young opener was fined a further 15% of his match fee, meaning he will have to pay money back as part of his punishment given he has effectively incurred 115% of match fees in fines.

Television umpire Richard Kettleborough adjudged that a catch by Cameron Green to remove Gill had been taken cleanly. Gill took to social media later in the day to make a post that appeared to question the decision.

Seven wickets fell before lunch on the fifth day as India’s hopes of a remarkable victory vanished on a bright and humid Sunday morning in south London.

An additional 15 minutes were taken at the end of the session to allow the final wicket to be taken, and Nathan Lyon did the honours when he picked up the scalp of Mohammed Siraj to secure Australia the World Test Championship title.

READ: Australia beat India to win World Test Championship final 

Australia remained in command of the World Test Championship final against India despite an error-strewn display at The Oval on Friday.

Ravindra Jadeja removed first-innings century-makers Steve Smith and Travis Head but a third day of dropped catches, wickets off no-balls and rash shots still ended with Australia 296 runs ahead at 123-4 in their second innings of the WTC Final.

Marnus Labuschagne, the world’s top-ranked Test batsman, survived several painful blows on a pitch of variable bounce to be 41 not out at stumps.

“We have quite a formidable score already but you just never know,” Labuschagne told BBC Radio.

The 28-year-old added: “My hands are just about hanging on. I’ve got good bone density. It is lively out there, and that does make it challenging when they bounce like that off a length, but that happens as a batter and you’ve just got to find a way through it.”

The WTC Final is taking place just a week before Australia face England in an Ashes opener at Edgbaston.

“We’re certainly not taking this game as Ashes preparation,” said Labuschagne. “But it is certainly handy to have a Test of this calibre before a very big series.”

When Scott Boland knocked over Srikar Bharat’s stumps with just the second ball of the day, India were 317 runs behind with only four first-innings wickets standing.

But Ajinkya Rahane (89) and Shardul Thakur (51) then made the most of Australia’s mistakes during a seventh-wicket stand of 109 before India were eventually dismissed for 296.

Australia captain Pat Cummins took 3-83 in his 20 overs but his figures would have been better but for six no-balls.

“We made a bit of a meal of it in the morning,” said Labuschagne, adding: “Pat just addressed it, said we weren’t good enough and we’ve all played enough cricket to know that was fair.

Rahane insisted all was not lost for India in the WTC Final.

“Australia are slightly ahead of the game,” he told Sky Sports. “In the morning the first hour will be very crucial. We know funny things can happen.”

Australia were 2-1 when the under-pressure David Warner, who had managed just one century in his previous 33 Test innings, was caught behind off Mohammed Siraj.

Usman Khawaja, Warner’s opening partner, fell cheaply for the second time in the WTC Final when, on 13, he followed a first-innings duck by being caught behind carelessly edging a wide ball from paceman Umesh Yadav.

Left-arm spinner Jadeja then removed Smith and Head, although both batsmen played a part in their own downfall.

Star batsman Smith had spent just over five-and-a-half hours at the crease for 121 in Australia’s first-innings 469.

But on Friday he gave his wicket away for 34 when he skied a drive off Jadeja to cover.

Head’s dynamic 163 had established Australia’s strong position in the final. He continued to attack Friday only for a quickfire 18 to end when, attempting a booming drive against the turn out of the rough, his miscued shot gave Jadeja a simple return catch.

Earlier, both Rahane and Thakur were struck by nasty blows, while all-rounder Thakur was dropped twice in single figures, including on eight when he edged Cummins to gully only for Cameron Green to floor a straightforward chance.

And just before lunch Thakur appeared lbw to fast bowler Cummins only for a review to reveal a no-ball.

Rahane, who would have been lbw for 17 on Thursday but for another Cummins no-ball, hooked the Australia skipper for a sweetly timed six to complete a 92-ball fifty — a shot greeted by raucous cheers from a sun-drenched and India-dominated crowd of over 25,000, witnessing the WTC Final.

Rahane was reprieved again on 72 when he edged Cummins only for wicketkeeper Alex Carey not to commit to a catch, with first slip Warner unable to hold onto a desperate left-hand grab.

But Rahane was denied a hundred in his first Test in over a year after an edge off Cummins was brilliantly caught one-handed by a diving Green in the gully.

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Steve Smith scored his 31st Test century before Australia captain Pat Cummins sparked India’s collapse in the World Test Championship (WTC) final on Thursday.

Smith, 95 not out overnight, followed team-mate Travis Head in going to three figures with 121 in a first-innings total of 469 at The Oval.

Fast bowler Pat Cummins, in his 50th Test, then removed opposing skipper Rohit Sharma to initiate India’s second-day slump.

Ajinkya Rahane (29 not out), struck some painful blows on the glove, held firm with Ravindra Jadeja (48) after India had been reduced to 71-4.

But India were 151-5 at stumps, a huge deficit of 318 runs.

Rohit was plumb lbw for 15 to a full-length ball from Cummins, who had close figures of 1-36 in nine overs.

Four balls later, India were 30-2 when Shubman Gill (13) was bowled playing no shot to Scott Boland after being deceived by a sharp off-cutter.

England’s Stuart Broad tried to rile Australia before the WTC Final by saying he hoped Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli kept Cummins’s men in the field for a long time ahead of next week’s first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

But both senior India batsmen fell for 14 on Thursday.

Pujara was bowled leaving a delivery from all-rounder Cameron Green and Kohli was undone by a spiteful, lifting ball from Mitchell Starc that took the shoulder of the bat, with Smith holding an excellent leaping catch above his head at second slip.

Left-hander Jadeja defied Australia in an aggressive 51-ball knock featuring seven fours and a six.

But he succumbed to off-spinner Nathan Lyon, edging a well-flighted and turning delivery to slip in a tame end to a stand of 71 with Rahane.

“We are in a really good spot so hopefully we can get a few more wickets in the morning,” Boland told Sky Sports.

“The pitch is going a little bit up and down so it should be harder for the India batters tomorrow (Friday).”

India were facing a potentially huge Australian first-innings total with Smith and Head (163) at the crease.

But their pacemen struck as Australia lost four wickets for 41 runs, including Head and Smith, to slip from 361-3 to 402-7.

India bowled out Australia after lunch, fast bowler Mohammed Siraj taking 4-108 from 28.3 overs.

Smith reached three figures in the opening over on Thursday, joining compatriot Steve Waugh on seven Test hundreds in England.

Among non-England batters, only Australia great Don Bradman, with 11 centuries, has scored more.

Smith’s 31st Test century left him 12th on the all-time list.

Head extended his first overseas Test century to 150 but a short ball proved his undoing when he tried to whip Siraj legside and gloved a catch to wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat.

Head’s dismissal ended an impressive stand of 285 runs with Smith after they had come together with Australia in trouble at 76-3.

Shardul Thakur then captured the prized wicket of Smith, who inside-edged an outswinger into his stumps to the delight of the large India contingent in a crowd of over 23,000.

The WTC is the only major men’s cricket trophy Australia have yet to win.

India are appearing in their second WTC final, having lost to New Zealand in the inaugural 2021 showpiece match in Southampton.

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LONDON: Travis Head’s dashing century was the centrepiece of an Australia fightback against India on the opening day of the World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval on Wednesday.

Australia were in a commanding position on 327-3 at stumps after losing the toss, with Travis Head 146 not out and Steve Smith 95 not out.

Steve Smith brought up the pair’s 250 stand off the last ball of the day when he guided Mohammed Shami through the covers for a sweetly timed four.

The fourth-wicket duo had come together with Australia in trouble at 76-3 after being sent into bat in bowler-friendly conditions in the WTC Final.

But as the sun burst through the clouds in south London, the runs started to flow.

Travis Head had his moments of good fortune but by counter-attacking from the start of his innings — 24 of his first 27 runs came in boundaries — the left-hander put the pressure back on the bowlers.

With Steve Smith, who before this match averaged nearly 98 in Tests at The Oval, batting in more conventional fashion it gave the 29-year-old Head freedom to keep playing his shots.

By the time India tested Head with the short ball, he was well set and a pulled single off Shami took him to a sixth Test hundred in just 106 balls, including 13 fours and a six.

By contrast, Smith took 144 balls for his fifty.

But a superb driven four off Mohammed Siraj saw Smith into the 90s as he eyed a 31st Test hundred.

India took the new ball as soon as they could, with Australia 301-3 off 80 overs, but it made little difference.

India captain Rohit Sharma would have been looking for many more wickets after opting to bowl first.

And as Smith and Head repelled India, he might also have wondered about the wisdom of leaving out off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, who could have been a threat against an Australia top five featuring three left-handers.

India had started strongly in what was their second WTC Final after losing to New Zealand in the inaugural 2021 showpiece in Southampton.

Siraj removed Usman Khawaja for a duck with an excellent wobble-seam delivery and Australia, to the raucous delight of an overwhelmingly pro-India crowd, were 2-1.

But David Warner, who had managed just one century in his previous 32 Test innings, dug in before the increasingly assured opener struck Umesh Yadav for three fours in successive deliveries.

The 36-year-old left-hander’s promising innings ended on 43 when a gloved pull off medium-pacer Shardul Thakur was well caught down the legside by diving wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat.

Marnus Labuschagne, the world’s top-ranked Test batsman, fell early in the second session for his lunch score of 26 when he was bowled between bat and pad by a Shami inswinger.

Head was troubled by Ravindra Jadeja but then drove the left-arm spinner for four — one of nine boundaries in a 60-ball fifty.

The WTC is the only major men’s cricket trophy Australia have yet to win.

The WTC Final also marks the start of a packed schedule of six Tests in eight weeks for Australia, including a five-match Ashes series against England.

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LONDON: Right-arm pacer Scott Boland will feature in the World Test Championship final as Australia captain Pat Cummins revealed his side’s bowling group for the big clash against India, starting on Wednesday at The Oval.

Scott Boland pipped Michael Neser, who was included in the Australian squad as a replacement for the injured Josh Hazlewood.

While Skipper Pat Cummins confirmed Boland’s selection, he did not name the complete playing XI which will take on India in the Final.

However, he expressed there will be “no surprises” in the playing XI which means Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Boland round out Australia’s pace attack while Nathan Lyon spearheads the spin department.

“Scott is a seam bowler on a good length, but he just offers something slightly different to Joshy Hazlewood, and Starcy being a left hander is bit different,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

“In the past here in England, because the ball does talk a little more, I’ve seen players get too caught up in trying to take wickets every ball because you’ve suddenly got the ball swinging and seaming,” he added

“Someone like Scotty, it’s just a really simple game-plan – you hit your good areas and you stay there all day and hopefully the ball will do the work for you.

“He’s had a few bowls over here now and has looked good. But he looks good whenever he bowls.”

The 34-year-old Boland has so far taken 28 wickets in his first seven Tests at an average of just 13.42. He made a remarkable start to his career during the last Ashes series in 2021-22 where he took 18 wickets.

Probable 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

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LONDON: Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of ICC World Test Championship final against India due to his ongoing Achilles and side issue. 

Michael Neser will replace Josh Hazlewood in the Australian squad for the mega clash at the Oval’s London from June 7 to 11.

Josh Hazlewood has been fighting injury since leaving the Royal Challengers Bangalore early during the Indian Premier League, and Australia has decided not to take any chances with the right-armer ahead of a busy away schedule.

World Test Championship Final’s Event Technical Committee also approved the late change made by the Australian team.

The inclusion of all-rounder Neser to Australia’s 15-member squad for the one-off Test makes him a contender for the final XI along with Scott Boland.

Neser has been in excellent form recently for Glamorgan in England’s Country Championship as he claimed 19 wickets from five matches and even managed to score a hundred against Sussex.

The right-arm has played only two Tests during his career but could find a place in the final XI and partner skipper Pat Cummins and fellow pacer Mitchell Starc for the World Test Championship Final.

34-year-old Boland, on the other hand, has played seven Tests for his country – the most recent being the series opener against India at Nagpur in February – but has claimed 28 wickets at an imposing average of 13.42, making him a better choice than Neser.

It is hoped Hazlewood will be available for selection for the first Ashes Test in Birmingham from June 16.

Updated Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, David Warner

Standby players: Mitch Marsh, Matthew Renshaw

India named Ishan Kishan as a replacement for the injured KL Rahul for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at The Oval in June. 

Rahul, the captain of Lucknow Super Giants, suffered a thigh injury while fielding during the Indian Premier League match against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday.

He had been sidelined for the rest of the IPL and the upcoming mega clash for Test supremacy.

Rahul’s replacement Kishan is uncapped in red-ball format but has featured in 14 ODIs and 27 T20Is for India.

The inclusion of the left-hander gives India an extra wicket-keeping option apart from KS Bharat, who only made his debut earlier this year against Australia in the absence of Rishabh Pant.

Rahul’s injury is not the only concern for India ahead of the WTC final since pacers Jaydev Unadkat and Umesh Yadav are also being closely monitored by the Indian medical staff.

The left-arm pacer Unadkat sustained a left shoulder injury in the nets during the IPL and is currently undergoing strength and rehab sessions.

The decision on his availability for the WTC23 final will be taken later, according to a BCCI statement.

Similarly, Yadav also suffered a minor left hamstring injury while playing for KKR in the IPL and is currently being monitored by the medical team.

India have also named three reserve players for the final with Ruturaj Gaikwad, the backup opener to Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav, the middle-order batter, taking up two of those spots.

Mukesh Kumar, who has previously been with the Test squad, but is yet to make his debut for India, filled the third spot as a standby seamer.

DUBAI: Following their comprehensive win by nine wickets in the third Test against India, Australia secured their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, scheduled from June 7 to 11 at the Oval, London.

Australia won 11 out of the 18 Tests played during the 2021-23 WTC cycle and became the first team to qualify for the final with a competition still wide open for the second spot.

The visitors bounced back forcefully in the third Test and made India taste their own medicine as they sealed the victory in just three days on the back of a phenomenal spin attack.

Australia folded India for 109 on day one with spinner Matthew Kuhnemann leading the charge with five wickets. In reply, they made a solid start before collapsing to 197 all out before lunch on day two with their last six wickets tumbling for just 11 runs.

Eight wickets for spinner Nathan Lyon saw India bundled out for 163 in their second innings, setting up a victory target of 76 which they chased easily for the loss of opener Usman Khawaja on day three.

“That victory has helped Australia amass an impressive 68.52 of their possible WTC points,” said International Cricket Council in a media release on Friday, adding, “They will finish the current period in first place on the World Test Championship standings regardless of the result in the final Test of their ongoing series against India.”

India, who are still second on the standings with 60.29 points, will seal the WTC final spot if they win the fourth Test against Australia in Ahmedabad. However, another defeat or a draw will leave their chances dependent on the remaining fixtures of the outgoing cycle.

“Sri Lanka have two Tests to play away from home against New Zealand this month and know they have to complete a 2-0 series sweep over the Kiwis to have any chance of snatching a spot in the WTC Final,” ICC added.

Remaining ICC World Test Championship Fixtures

South Africa v West Indies (Second Test) – Johannesburg, South Africa, 8-12 March
New Zealand v Sri Lanka (First Test) – Christchurch, New Zealand, 9-13 March
India v Australia (Fourth Test) – Ahmedabad, India, 9-13 March
New Zealand v Sri Lanka (Second Test) – Wellington, New Zealand, 17-21 March

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DUBAI: The final of the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 cycle will be held from June 7 to 11 at the Oval, London, confirmed International Cricket Council on Wednesday

“The final of the second edition of the ICC World Test Championship will be played at The Oval, London from 7 to 11 June with a reserve day in place (12 June).” said ICC in a media release.

New Zealand won the inaugural edition of the Test championship by defeating India by eight wickets in the 2021 final in Southampton.

Australia are currently leading the points table for the ongoing cycle with a healthy percentage of 75.56, followed by India at 58.93.

The two teams are set to face off in a crucial four-match Test series, beginning 9 February in Nagpur, which will eventually determine the prospective finalists.

“The prospect of playing in the World Test Championship Final has been a big motivator for us over the last couple of years, more so now having missed out on over rates last time,” said Australia captain Pat Cummins as quoted by the ICC.

Whereas, the chances for Sri Lanka (53.33%) and South Africa (48.72%), who take the third and fourth positions respectively, to play the final are still alive. Sri Lanka will play two away Tests against New Zealand as part of the ongoing cycle, while South Africa’s last have two Tests at home against the West Indies.

“Sri Lanka still has a good chance of making it to the World Test Championship Final. We have done well to be among the top contenders, and if we can complete a good Test series on the upcoming New Zealand tour, our chances of making it to the Final will look like a greater possibility,” said Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne.

Dean Elgar, South African said: While we may have an outside chance of qualification for the World Test Championship Final, there’s no greater encouragement than the thought of playing for silverware in such a historic format at such a historic ground.

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