World Test Championship final 2023 as it happened: Australia to bat for victory after Green’s match-turning catch

An enthralling day’s Test cricket with frankly, a little bit of everything.

Marnus Labuschagne anchored the innings despite looking far less comfortable than usual with a grafting 41, Cameron Green joining him to see out the last few overs.

Earlier, Ajinkya Rahane deserved triple figures for his vigil for India and was ably supported by both Shardul Thakur (51), as well a slew of Australian errors - wickets being taken with no-balls and catches spilled all over the place.

Cameron Green takes a screamer at gully.Credit: 7Mate

Then a bit of Green brilliance in the field - snaffling Rahane with one of the best catches you’ll see, and it’s all over. Or is it? Australia’s openers are rolled early, India’s fans are going wild with Virat Kohli whipping them into a frenzy, only for Steve Smith to silence them, and Ravindra Jadeja to rev them right up again as the shadows grow long.

Certainly Australia’s game right now. It’ll take a minor calamity to lose it from here. But India has kept it interesting with enterprising play today and it’s been a worthy stoush for the title of world champions. That’s all we’ve got for now, same time again tomorrow.

Australia: 4-123 (Labuschagne 41*, Green 7*) Australia lead by 296 runs.

Ravindra Jadeja, he’s the rock star for a reason, and he’s sent Travis Head on his way for 18. A simple caught and bowled and Head was never looking truly comfortable against the left-armer, though he could have easily kept rattling up runs in the process.

Case in point, two balls earlier Jadeja had him sweeping cleanly, but straight to Umesh Yadav on the boundary, only for him to spill a sitter over the rope for six while looking up into the sun. Uncertain shot from Head for his actual dismissal, trying to hit out down the ground but barley got any of it and an easy return catch.

Australia: 4-112 (Labuschagne 36*, Green 1*) Australia lead by 285 runs.

New battter, things starting to happen suddenly. Jadeja getting Head to play and miss and miscue as well.

At the other end India are pushing on with the short-ball tactics that eventually claimed Head in the first innings, after 163 runs mind you. He hooks Siraj down over the head of fine-leg and Siraj isn’t happy with Jadeja being 5-10 metres in from the rope.

If he was standing on it, dare say it’s a catch. Doesn’t matter actually with a no-ball called and so it’s actually seven runs from the one ball. That’s how you keep a fast bowler happy at the end of the day. Four byes shortly afterwards from a very, very short ball to bring up Australia’s 100.

Australia: 3-103 (Labuschagne 36*, Head 10*) Australia lead by 276 runs.

Well, there’s something you don’t see every day. Steve Smith trying to force the issue, coming down the track to Jadeja. Looks to launch down the ground but only skews an ugly edge high and wide, caught easily at point by Thakur.

Well bowled by Jadeja. Beat him once he saw Smith coming down the wicket, not much turn but Smith didn’t adjust when Jadeja did the same with his length. Desperately needed breakthrough for India. Mohammed Siraj now into the attack to try and trigger something with Travis Head fresh to the crease.

Australia: 3-87 (Labuschagne 35*, Head 0*) Australia lead by 262 runs.

Double change with the ball from India. Ravindra Jadeja on from one end - right call, Steve Smith looking far too settled against the pacemen, and Shardul Thakur back into the attack. Starts with a short ball and Labuschagne treats the 125 km/hr offering as you’d expect - smacks it for four behind square.

Variable bounce seems to have gone out of the pitch suddenly too as the ball softens, funny the effect Smith can have. He’s comfortably finding runs from Jadeja as well and it’s already a 50-run stand between Australia’s two best batters. India fading with every ball these two remain at the crease. Half a chance from Smith off Jadeja mind you, an edge that didn’t carry to slip, instead running away for a boundary.

Australia: 2-82 (Labuschagne 33*, Smith 32*) Australia lead by 255 runs.

Steve Smith: Imperious as always.Credit: Getty

Bit of a lull at The Oval. Steve Smith, as he just does, has taken the air right out of India since coming to the crease. Looking very fluid and already has 16 runs from 24 balls, Marnus Labuschagne has been there for 56 and is still only on 22. We’ve got a fair delay for some punter behind the bowler’s arm wearing red to clear out. Ah, cricket.

Speaking of, 40 years ago today, Zimbabwe rolled Australia at the 1983 World Cup. The most disastrous tournament in Australia’s history as the fallout from World Series Cricket still caused dramas, and one of the great days for a fledgling cricket nation.

Australia: 2-56 (Labuschagne 22*, Smith 17*) Australia lead by 233 runs.

Nope, no cashing in for Khawaja today. That was a very wide ball from Umesh Yadav, Khawaja threw his hands at it after three overs without a run. Only succeeded in nicking that through to the keeper again, and both Australia’s openers are gone for not many.

Umesh Yadav celebrates as Usman Khawaja is on his way.Credit: AP

Steve Smith to the crease and immediately works his first ball to the leg side for three, Labuschagne follows up by tickling a loose ball past fine leg for four as well. Runs finally come after the run rate had slowed well below two an over.

Australia: 2-31 (Labuschagne 12*, Smith 3*) Australia lead by 204 runs.

Australia resume at The Oval and they can genuinely close India out of the match with a big session here. That said, India bowled fantastically before the tea break and could easily have claimed a couple of extra scalps.

Critical session for Usman Khawaja especially, he’d dearly love some runs to get him going this tour. His and David Warner’s records in the UK are glaring. Steven Phillip Smith’s, simply stupendous.

Australia: 1-24 (Khawaja 13*, Labuschagne 8*) Australia lead by 197 runs.