India and Australia finally take to the field as they are set to play the biggest game of the year in test cricket. Oval is the venue as the two teams led by Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins walk on to the field. The prize in question is the biggest in test cricket, the World Test Championships. India were the runners up in the previous edition losing the final to New Zealand in 2021. The Kiwis led by Kane Williamson had won the tournament by 8 wickets at Southampton.
The story so far –
The pitch at the KIA Oval has been the topic of discussion with the strip bearing a brownish look. From the first glance it looks like a seaming paradise which could see the likes of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Scot Boland lick their lips in glee. Indian off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was in conversation with the grounds man and rather amazing insights on the state of pitch came to be known.
Bouncy pitch on offer for the final –
Ravichandran Ashwin is expected to play a huge role during if he gets selected in the playing XI for the big game starting on Wednesday. The 36 year old off spinner was speaking to Lee Fortis who happens to be the lead grounds man at the Oval while on his official YouTube Channel.
Ashwin was heard asking Lee Fortis “you have always prepared good pitches. But today, some of our boys got hit on the practice pitches. So is it going to be similar? What do you think? It bounced a lot today. You don’t like me? You don’t get it to spin, right? Can we expect a nice and bouncy Brett Lee Pitch?. To which Lee Fortis replied “Good Oval pitch. It will be bouncy that’s the one thing that I can guarantee, it will be bouncy”
🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/VaC7sjzOo7
— rajendra tikyani (@Rspt1503) June 6, 2023
Bowling attack conundrum –
The biggest problem facing Rohit Sharma ahead of the game will the bowling attack that he would want to go in with. Mohammad Shami and Mohammad Siraj are considered the front line pacers. There is confusion if they would want to include Umesh Yadav or Shardul Thakur in the 11. There is also confusion on which spinner to play as all 3 Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar are in good form. It is highly unlikely that India may opt for a 3 man spin attack with the conditions in sight.