Cricket World Cup 2023: Pitch conditions to dictate final selection as Marnus Labuschagne edges ahead of Marcus Stoinis

Pitch inspections have fuelled Australia’s fears about an Ahmedabad pitch built for spin, which has all but ended the Marcus Stoinis or Marnus Labuschagne debate.

Marnus Labuschagne is expected to keep his spot in the side for the World Cup final in Ahmedabad as Australia prepares for a pitch expected to make batting tricky against spin.

After inspecting the pitch late on Saturday, it’s understood the Australian camp is bracing for a strip that will have cracks at either end, with flatter areas in the middle.

It means Labuschagne would be more likely to keep his spot in the side – ahead of powerful all-rounder Marcus Stoinis — given a surface that would favour spin.

After the controversy surrounding the used pitch dished up for the India-New Zealand semi-final in Mumbai, Australia has been assured a fresh deck for Sunday’s decider against India, the match to be played on a pitch not used since the India-Pakistan blockbuster five weeks ago.

Marnus Labuschagne is expected to keep his spot for the final. Picture: Punit PARANJPE / AFP

Aussie skipper Cummins inspected the surface at the 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday and flagged a truer pitch than the one on which Australia battled to chase 213 against the Proteas at Eden Gardens on Thursday night.

“Had a look. I’m not a great pitch reader, but it looked pretty firm,” Cummins said. “Looks like a pretty good wicket … I think there has been some more high scores here throughout the tournament. It has been a pretty good wicket.”

Labuschagne fielded brilliantly but made just 18 from 31 balls in the semi-final victory, trapped in a close lbw call by Tabraiz Shamsi.

Stoinis has had a modest tournament but offers extra bowling depth if needed as well as power hitting.

Cummins said Australia had a full complement of 15 players from which to choose, and that there remained scope for the Aussies to change the composition of their side despite an impressive and confidence-boosting eight-match winning streak.

Pat Cummins inspects the pitch. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“Potentially yeah, those are the things that we weigh up before every game,” Cummins said.

“We’re lucky. We’ve got a 15-man squad who we feel anyone can step in, and they’re all ready to go. So like every other game we’ll go through the process where the coaches will … chat through how they think the game’s going to go about and selectors pick the final XI.

“Everyone’s fine. No injury issues. Coaches and selectors will assess the wicket, so they’ll come down tonight, have a look and pick a team.”

To claim a sixth 50-over World Cup, Australia will need to take down an Indian team that has barely put a foot wrong across 10 games.

Not only will the Aussies be facing a red-hot Indian XI, they will also have to contend with the prospect of more than 100,000 home fans baying for Australia to lose.

Cummins said the Aussies had no option but to try to harness the energy of the crowd to their advantage.

Could Australia bring Marcus Stoinis back into their team for the World Cup final? Picture: Money SHARMA / AFP

“You’ve got to embrace it. The crowd’s obviously going to be very one-sided, but in sport there’s nothing more satisfying than hearing a big crowd go silent,” he said.

“You just can’t get overwhelmed. You’ve got to be up for it. You’ve got to love it.”

India has won two one-day World Cups (1983 and 2011) but has struggled at the pointy end of global events in recent years, having not tasted ultimate success at a senior men’s ICC event since winning the 2013 Champions Trophy.

The hosts are widely expected to enter the final unchanged, with spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav complementing a pace battery of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and the in-form Mohammed Shami, who claimed seven wickets in the semi against the Black Caps.

English pair Richard Illingworth and Richard Kettleborough will umpire the final.