Sloppy Australia stay on top in WTC final

By AFP

June 10, 2023

LONDON: India´s Ravindra Jadeja took two prize wickets but Australia remained in command of the World Test Championship final despite an error-strewn display at The Oval on Friday.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. 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.

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 a week before the first Ashes Test against England during a seventh-wicket stand of 109. India surged past the follow-on total before they 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. And Australia were 2-1 when under-pressure opener 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 this match when, on 13, he followed a first-innings duck by carelessly edging a wide ball from Umesh Yadav to wicketkeeper Bharat as the paceman took his first wicket of the final.

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 skyed 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. Australia were now 111-4, still a lead of 284 against an India side missing Ravichandran Ashwin after the star off-spinner, the world´s top-ranked Test bowler, was omitted in favour of an extra seamer. 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 the batsman´s review to reveal a no-ball.

India won the toss

Australia 1st Innings 469

India 1st Innings

Rohit (c) lbw b Cummins 15

Shubman b Boland 13

Cheteshwar b Green 14

Virat c Smith b Starc 14

Ajinkya c Green b Cummins 89

Ravindra c Smith b Lyon 48

Srikar b Boland 5

Shardul c Carey b Green 51

Umesh b Cummins 5