WTC Final 2023: Ricky Ponting – Once the IPL 2023 is over, the eyes of the cricketing world will turn to the World Test Championship Final 2023. The second WTC Final will be held at the Kennington Oval in London on June 7, 2023. The two giants of world cricket, Australia and India, will lock horns to decide the winner of the second World Test Championship Cycle. Former Australian captain and one of the greats of the game, Ricky Ponting, was in New Delhi to talk about the big WTC Final. The veteran of 168 Tests for the Baggy Greens revealed who holds the edge between India and Australia, the match-ups, and the potential winner. Follow WTC Final Live Updates with InsideSport.IN.
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WTC Final 2023: Australian legend Ricky Ponting reveals who holds the edge in India vs Aus Final?
Ricky Ponting, who is also the coach of the IPL franchise Delhi Capitals feels that the wicket on offer at the Kennington Oval, London for the 2023 World Test Championship Final will play a huge role in the outcome of the match. While most of the Indian players are participating in the IPL 2023, compared to only a handful of Australians representing different franchises this time around. According to Ponting, two best teams – Australia and India are rightfully playing the WTC Final, and a lot will be on the line come June 07 at the Oval.
“The WTC Final 2023 between Australia and India is really exciting contest. This won’t be just any other Test match, that’s for sure. Fittingly the two best teams over the last two years are playing the Final. Both the teams will be looking to be recognised and remembered as the best Test team in the world. India and Australia playing in a neutral venue for one-off Test at the Oval in the Final. I think it becomes ultra-exciting,” Ricky Ponting said during a media interaction at Hyatt Regency in New Delhi.
The Oval pitch will play a huge role: Ricky Ponting
The conditions at the Oval are expected to play a huge role, according to former Australian Captain Ricky Ponting. Australia and India have never played a Test match at a neutral venue. This is the first time, both these heavyweights will go toe-to-toe against each other at a neutral venue. Ponting believes that the pitch at the Oval used to be a batting beauty during his playing days, and assisted the spinners later one. However, the Australian legend is unsure how the pitch will behave this time around, especially when the match will be played in June, which is the start of the England winter.
“Having played at the Oval during my playing days, I feel the conditions and the wickets over there perhaps suits Australia more than India. Had this Final been played in India, I would have said Australia would have had a lot tougher time. Similarly, had the final been played in Australia, I would have said Australia. The fact that this game is been played in England at the Oval, probably brings both the teams closer. We don’t know what the conditions would be like at the Oval but I guess Australia holds the edge at the moment,” Ricky Ponting added.
The Aussie legend feels that though the conditions at the Oval suits Australia more, but India’s challenge cannot be ruled out. According to him, India has got some serious match-winners, but the absence of Jasprit Bumrah is a massive advantage for Baggy Greens especially in England conditions. Ponting also believes that both the teams will look to give their best shot in the final and give them the best chance to win the ICC WTC Final, which is also known as the World Cup in Test format.
Ricky Ponting picks his ‘Player to watch out for’
Australian players like Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne are already in England, playing county cricket. For India, Cheteshwar Pujara is busy playing for Sussex in the 2023 County Championship. While the whole world is looking forward to Steve Smith vs Virat Kohli battle, Ricky Ponting picked up his player to watch out for in the WTC Final.
“A lot of people expects me to pick someone like Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne or Virat Kohli. From the Australian side, Usman Khawaja is the most in-form batsman and he holds the key for Australia in the Final. As an opening batsman he is expected to take the team off to a good start, and I will go with him,” Ricky Ponting said
Ricky Ponting represented Australia in 168 Tests, 375 ODIs and 10 T20Is for Australia between 1996 and 2012. He also led Australia to two 50-over World Cup titles, a Champions Trophy title during his illustrious career. He is regarded as one of the all-time greats of the game.
Team India performance in WTC 2021-2023 Cycle
Team India under Rohit Sharma’s leadership made it to their second consecutive WTC Final, after defeating Australia 2-1 at home earlier this year. Team India retained the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023 in their den to book their seat in the WTC 2023 Final. This means that Australia and India will be locking horns for the fifth time in 2023.
India’s journey to the WTC Final 2023 hasn’t been smoother. In fact their qualification to the final was decided on the last day of the fourth Test against Australia in Ahmedabad. The Test match ended in a draw, but India did enough to seal the final berth. Overall, in the last two years, India played 18 Tests, in which they won 10 matches, lost five, three matches ended in no-result and collected a PCT of 58.8.
India was also a part of the 2021 WTC Final against New Zealand at Southampton. India lost the Final to an inspired New Zealand outfit by 8 wickets. This time around, Rohit Sharma and company would love to bring the ICC mace home.
ICC World Test Championship Final 2023
The ICC World Test Championship Final 2023 will be played between Australia and India at the iconic Kennington Oval in London, England. The Final will be played between June 07 and 11. The ICC has kept an additional reserve day i.e June 12, in case of rain interruptions and delays.
Team India
Team India will be led into the 2023 WTC Final against Australia by opener Rohit Sharma, who is likely to be partnered by the in-form Shubman Gill. The middle order is packed with experience in the form of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane. The wicket-keeping duties have been handed over to KS Bharat.
In the spin department, the selectors have picked veterans Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and the in-form Axar Patel. The pace department will be led by Mohammad Shami, and he has in-form Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, and Shardul Thakur for company.
Team India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.
Wicketkeeper batsman Ishan Kishan has been named as injured KL Rahul replacement.
Standby players: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav, Mukesh Kumar
Team Australia
Australia will be led by fast bowler Pat Cummins, with the experienced Steve Smith as his deputy. The WTC Final also marks the return of opener David Warner to the Test squad after recovering from an elbow injury against India earlier this year.
The batting unit will be led by Marnus Labuschagne alongside Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, and Matthew Renshaw. The all-round duties will be led by in-form Cameron Green and the experienced Mitchell Marsh. Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc will lead the fast bowling unit, and he will have the company of Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland. The wicketkeeping duties have been entrusted to Alex Carey.
The spin duties will be led by Nathan Lyon, who tormented Indian batsmen in India earlier this year. Todd Murphy, who had an excellent series against India, has been retained in the Australian Test squad.
Australia: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc) , Mitchell Starc, David Warner
WTC Final 2023: Australian legend Ricky Ponting reveals who holds the edge in India vs Aus Final?
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