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World Test Championship final: Australia in dominant position after day three at The Oval

Australia are in a dominant position in the World Test Championship with Scott Boland proving almost unplayable at times.

Daniel Cherny in London
14 min read
12:55AMJune 10, 2023.
Updated 9:14AMJune 10, 2023
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Aussies stunned in day 3 blunder-fest

India will need to break a 121-year-old record to pinch the World Test Championship crown off Australia after a nip and tuck day three at The Oval.

Despite three dropped catches and two lbws off no-balls, Australia bowled out India midway through the day for 296, and extended its 173-run first innings lead to 296 by the close of play.

Australia was 4-123 in its second innings at stumps, with weather unlikely to intervene on the weekend.

The record successful fourth innings chase at The Oval is 263, set by England against Australia in the 1902 Ashes.

With David Warner (one) and Usman Khawaja (13) both nicking off cheaply to extend their respective poor runs in England, the Aussies relied on Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne to steady the ship.

Labuschagne was in the wars, including copping a ball from Shardul Thakur to his groin, but after first innings heroes Smith (34) and Travis Head (18) both departed trying to slog Ravindra Jadeja, Labuschagne (41 not out) and Cameron Green (seven not out) steered Australia to stumps.

Head had been dropped by Umesh Yadav on the boundary but was caught and bowled two balls later.

Marnus Labuschagne fends off a short delivery. Picture: Getty Images
Marnus Labuschagne fends off a short delivery. Picture: Getty Images

“It was certainly a mixed day,” Australian paceman Mitchell Starc said.

“The wicket is starting to play a few tricks here and there, staying a bit low, obviously a few jumping up. I thought we created enough chances, we bowled a bit inconsistent throughout the innings, we knew the scoring was going to be quite quick with the square the full way across and India playing quite aggressive.”

Ajinkya Rahane, who topscored with 89 in India’s first innings, was nursing a sore finger but Indian team management insisted he would bat in the second dig.

Boland bowling pearls through India

Mister miser

Scott Boland was the sole Australian bowler to go at under three runs an over during India’s first innings, and his frugal ways could be very handy against freewheeling England. The legendary Ricky Ponting said injury concerns around Josh Hazlewood would make Boland a hard man to leave out for the first Ashes Test next week.

“The thing that the selectors might be thinking about is Josh’s injury situation over the last few years now, I think he’s only played four Test matches through this whole cycle, in two years,” Ponting said.

“When you look at it, with Scotty bowling the way that he is, it’s a pretty compelling argument to say, is he in the starting lineup for the first Test?”

Starc said Hazlewood was due to bowl on Saturday as he ramped up his case to play at Edgbaston.

Australia's Pat Cummins (3R) celebrates with teammates after dismissing India's Ajinkya Rahane (unseen) for 89. Picture: AFP
Australia's Pat Cummins (3R) celebrates with teammates after dismissing India's Ajinkya Rahane (unseen) for 89. Picture: AFP

Marnus asleep at the wheel

In a moment befitting his quirky nature, Labuschagne’s slumber appeared to have been rudely awakened by Mohammed Siraj’s removal of Warner. Labuschagne was spotted in the viewing room at The Oval with his eyes closed but the eruption of Indian fans roused him. “I think he was resting his eyes,” Starc said.

Seeing red

Smith is pedantic about his batting, and Friday proved another example. A man wearing a red T-shirt was sitting behind the bowler’s arm in the member’s pavilion, something that appeared to distract the batting great. He requested the patron move bays, and the man, beer in hand, duly obliged.

Pat Cummins bowled two costly no-balls.
Pat Cummins bowled two costly no-balls.

Line in the sand

Pat Cummins bowled six no-balls during the Indian innings, two of which would have been wickets had he not overstepped. Well if practice makes perfect, that only works if the practice is right. A sponsored social media post from Cummins in the lead-up to this tour showed him bowling in the nets. And it was a clear no-ball, something noted at the time by both Cummins and Warner.

Not Lyon

Nathan Lyon took the important wicket of Jadeja late on day two but that was about all the crowd at The Oval saw of him across with the ball. The “GOAT” may as well have been auditioning for an IPL deal given he bowled just four of the 69.4 overs sent down during India’s innings, with Cummins preferring to let his quicks do the bulk of the work on a pitch that still had a tinge of green.

Marnus Labuschagne had his nap rudely interrupted by the fall of David Warner’s wicket.
Marnus Labuschagne had his nap rudely interrupted by the fall of David Warner’s wicket.

RE-LIVE THE OVERNIGHT ACTION FROM OUR BLOG

- Daniel Cherny and Richard Lamberton

12.50PM: KHAWAJA THROWS WICKET AWAY

Marnus Labuschagne has risen from his unconscious state, the same can’t be said for Usman Khawaja.

Pinned down by India’s bowlers, Khawaja couldn’t resist pushing at Umesh Yadav’s tempting delivery and it’s snapped up by wicketkeeper KS Bharat.

“Just the way Australia is playing at the moment,” Matthew Hayden said from the commentary box. “It keeps the opposition in the game. It gives them the impression that, you know, Australia - despite being 197 ahead, they want to ensure they get that big score so they’re playing within themselves. And in trying to do that, it might bring about your downfall.”

If Labushagne and Steve Smith can push through this tricky new-ball period, Hayden believes runs will start flowing for Australia.

“From Australia’s point of view, also, they will know that, after 15, 18 overs, once the ball gets a little softer and older, it won’t leap off that length as quickly,” Hayden said.

”It goes through a transition phase, as you mightily said, from - rightly said, from, say, 20 overs to then the new ball that is due at the end of the 80th but that is the best time for batting. We have to bear in mind one favourite from the batsman’s point of view here is the overhead conditions are not there. Can you imagine this wicket, Ravi, with over head conditions.”

NOTE: our live coverage has finish but follow every ball in the match centre above.

12.40PM: PUNTER PRAISES BOLAND

Scott Boland was the sole Australian bowler to go at under three runs an over during India’s first innings, and his frugal ways could be very handy against freewheeling England. The legendary Ricky Ponting said injury concerns around Josh Hazlewood would make Boland a hard man to leave out for the first Ashes Test.

“The thing that the selectors might be thinking about is Josh’s injury situation over the last few years now, I think he’s only played four Test matches through this whole cycle, in two years,” Ponting said.

“When you look at it, with Scotty bowling the way that he is, it’s a pretty compelling argument to say, is he in the starting lineup for the first Test?”

11.31PM WICKET: MARNUS GOES VIRAL, WARNER FALLS

Marnus, wake up, you have a World Test championship final to win. A padded-up Marnus Labuschagne was enjoying a snooze before the roar of the India supporters sparked him out of his stupor.

The crowd was reacting to the wicket of David Warner, who could only add a single run to his gritty first innings knock, with cameras catching Labuschagne’s shock reaction to the fact he was due in the middle - an unusual act considering the opening pair’s record in England.

“There is the alarm,” the commentators roared. “The alarm has gone off and all of a sudden Marnus Labuschagne, don’t worry about the beeping alarm in the morning, this Indian crowd who are up and they should be.”

“Marnus Labuschagne at number 3, that is one of the more extraordinary arrivals to the crease that you will see. Are you awake, Marnus? Have you brushed your teeth? Have you had a coffee? What a batter, though, averaging 57. There he goes. Marnus. And now he’s probably heard the sound of the crowd.”

But of more concern is Warner’s form heading into the Ashes.

With Warner flagging his Test retirement at the end of the Australian summer, the opener’s immediate future isn’t as certain.

Almost guaranteed to bat at Edgbaston, a failure there could see the out-of-form veteran sidelined for the remainder of the Ashes.

11PM INNINGS CHANGE: AUSTRALIA CLEANS UP INDIA TAIL

The World Test Championship is beautifully poised after a brilliant rearguard fightback from India and a multitude of fielding errors from Australia.

India trails by 173 runs but it could have been much worse had Australia held their catches and bowled behind the line.

Australia looked out of answers before lunch but whatever was said during the break worked, cleaning up India’s tail cheaply.

But the Aussies remain in a dominant position with well over two days two and a wicket with plenty of life still in it.

“The wicket is not going to get easier to bat on, that is my gut feeling,” Justin Langer said at the innings change.

“Australia is still a long way ahead. Although that was a bit frustrating for them, that India, as we’d expect, have fought back.”

A huge chance for Australia to bat India out of the game in glorious conditions.

10.20PM WICKETS: REDEMPTION FOR GREEN, CUMMINS

From villain to hero! Cameron Green takes an absolute screamer to deny Ajinkya Rahane a potential match-saving century and swing momentum back in Australia’s favour.

Still smarting from dropping a first session sitter, Australia needed a big play - and Green delivered, taking one of the all-time great gully catches.

Rahane slashed at a wide Pat Cummins delivery and it flew wide of an outstretched Green who plucked it out of the air.

“It’s like he had a baseball mitt,” Matthew Hayden, a legendary gully fielder himself, said in commentary. “The fact that he’s able to catch the ball behind him actually softened his hand.”

Bang, bang! Cummins isn’t done yet. The captain castles new batsman Umesh Yadav. Where was this an hour ago?

9.27PM LUNCH WRAP: CUMMINS EXPLODES

- Daniel Cherny in London

Sloppy Australia was made to pay for blown chances as India’s seventh-wicket pairing provided determined resistance on the third morning of the World Test Championship final.

Cameron Green spilled a regulation catch at gully, Usman Khawaja and David Warner also dropped tougher chances, while Pat Cummins’ front foot strayed again as Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur trimmed their side’s first innings deficit.

Scott Boland had struck with the second ball of the day but Rahane and Thakur provided a portent of what looms in the upcoming Ashes by aggressively taking it up to the Aussies.

Rahane, the recalled veteran, and Thakur, one of India’s heroes from its win on Australian shores two and ½ years ago, ensured their side scored 109 runs in the first session. In response to the Aussies’ 469, India recovered from 6-152 to be 6-260 at the interval, with Rahane on 89 and Thakur on 36.

Boland knocked over wicketkeeper KS Bharat for five with the second ball of the day but precious little went right from there for the Australians.

The Victorian quick could’ve had his third scalp for the innings later in that first over but a lunging Khawaja couldn’t hang onto a difficult opportunity above his head at third slip.

However there was no excuse for Green, usually an outstanding fielder at gully, who put down Thakur on eight off Cummins’ bowling.

Cummins had on Thursday afternoon trapped Rahane lbw for 17 only to have the Indian No. 5 recalled when replays showed the Australian skipper had overstepped, his fourth no-ball of the innings.

Pat Cummins kicks the ball. Picture: Glyn Kirk/AFP
Pat Cummins kicks the ball. Picture: Glyn Kirk/AFP

The significance of the miss was not apparent at that point but by lunch on day three it was shouting in the Aussies’ face. Rahane rollicked along on Friday, bringing up his half-century with a six behind square off Cummins who was once more denied Rahane’s wicket when an edge was put down by a flying Warner at first slip. The chance, with Rahane on 72, should arguably have been taken by wicketkeeper Alex Carey, but the gloveman hesitated, leaving it for Warner.

Lightning somehow struck twice when Thakur was adjudged lbw for 36 in a tight leg-stump call in the last over before lunch, only for it to emerge that Cummins had once more overstepped, albeit barely this time.

Later in the over Cummins burnt a review after beating Thakur outside off stump. The usually genial Australian captain’s frustrations were apparent when he kicked the ball along the ground after the final ball of the session.

With the wicket flattening out on a beautiful London day and a fast outfield making life harder for the Aussies, India scored rapidly, with none of the Australian bowlers spared.

Mitchell Starc copped the most stick though, with his 13 overs to the interval going for 69, while Nathan Lyon barely got a bowl.

9.12PM DROPPED: WARNER, CAREY HAND RAHANE THIRD LIFE

Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur have survived body blows, dropped chances and lbw shouts as the pair look to defy Australia to the lunch break.

Staring the day 318 runs behind, the scrappy duo have whittled the deficit to 214, capitalising on loose bowling from Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green.

“Australia must think about making a double change going into the break,” Ricky Ponting said in commentary. “Boland looked the most dangerous this morning and I’d let Nathan Lyon bowl from whichever end he’d like.

“But I’d be giving either Boland or Cummins a short burst going into lunch.”

And right on queue, Cummins enters the fight with 20 minutes before the lunch break.

DROPPED! Cummins earns an immediate reaction, edging Rahane but it splits wicketkeeper Alex Carey and David Warner at first slip.

Terrible misjugdement from Warner and Carey. Another life for Rahane who has now been:

• Out on a no-ball

• Survived an umpire’s lbw review

• Dropped catch

8.30PM: UMPIRE DENIES GREEN SECOND WICKET

Cameron Green very nearly goes from villain to hero.

Australia reviews an lbw shout which is turned down by umpire Gaffaney.

Is it going down leg? The big all-rounder doesn’t think so.

Umpire’s call and Ajinkya Rahane rides his luck once again while Green will have to wait to make up for his crucial dropped chance.

Cameron Green thumps the ground after dropping Thakur. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty
Cameron Green thumps the ground after dropping Thakur. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty

8.09PM DROPPED: GREEN GRASSES DOLLY, RAHANE 50

One of the best gully fielders on the planet drops an absolute sitter.

A serious lapse in concentration from Cameron Green who grasses Shardul Thakur. And to make matters worse, it’s off Pat Cummins’ bowling.

Thankfully, it appears a matter of if not when for Cummins, who is bowling with added venom on day three.

But chances are chance and Green’s drop catch could prove costly for Australia.

And just like that, India’s danger man Ajinkya Rahane brings up his fifty with a six - an apt way to reach the milestone considering his IPL form this year. And just like that India move past 200.

Rahane has broken Australian hearts once before. Here’s hoping history doesn’t repeat in England.

7.33PM WICKET: SECOND-BALL BOLAND!

Knight him now! Scotty Boland strikes with the second ball of the day, nipping a length ball back through KS Bharat’s gate - and he should have had two but Usman Khawaja grasses a tough chance off the bat of Shardul Thakur.

It’s like Boland was born for English conditions, an in-built line and length radar that could prove Australia’s secret weapon against England.

“He’s done it again, this is what he does time after time,” Ricky Ponting said in commentary. “He just starts right on the money.”

While Boland and Josh Hazlewood are seen as like for like bowlers, another untimely injury Hazlewood injury could see him miss the majority of the Ashes for the new superstar of Australia’s attack.

Witnessing Boland’s day two heroics, Steve Smith believes the seamer has tailor-made style for England.

“I know from having faced Scotty in the nets very recently, he’s bowling very nicely,” Smith said after play on day two when asked about the pecking order.

“I think the angles he provides, his ability to hit the stumps from slightly shorter than some of our others is a big plus, something that I think Neser can do as well. Shorter guys who are a bit skiddier so if there’s any seam movement, it gives the ball the chance to move and still hit the stumps if that makes sense.”

Should they commission the Edgbaston statue now?

7.30PM: DECK DEMONS TO EMERGE

The sun is shining and the weather is sweet in London - but there’s no escape for India at The Oval despite the perfect batting conditions.

While overhead conditions are in India’s favour, it’s what’s underneath that will concern not out batsmen Ajinkya Rahane and KS Bharat.

With twelve wickets falling on day two, the uneven bounce in the The Oval wicket will become more pronounced under the baking English sun.

The prominent vertical cracks which played a huge role - just ask Virat Kohli - over the first two days are only getting wider.

But it’s the deterioration closer to the batting creases which will play on India’s mind with Nathan Lyon warming up nicely and Ravi Ashwin sitting in the pavilion.

6.25PM: INDIA FOOLED BY THE OVAL MIRAGE

- Robert Craddock

Steve Waugh believes the aura of The Oval seduced India into picking the wrong team and making the wrong decision to bowl first just as Australia did on their last tour.

“The Oval is always tricky.” Waugh said. “It looks really green on top and underneath. It’s been crumbling, a bit dry. You get lulled into the overcast skies and green pitch then the sun comes out …

“India definitely picked the wrong side (by leaving spinner Ravi Ashwin out). Spin will play a big part. I would have picked Ashwin for his batting don’t worry about his bowling. He has five Test centuries.’’

Waugh echoed Channel 7 commentator Ricky Ponting’s thoughts after the teams were revealed at the toss on day one.

“I was interested to get her this morning and have a closer look at the wicket,” Ponting said in commentary. “When I got a closer look it was dry under the surface. India has picked a bowling attack for the first innings of this game only.

“I think the reason that Ashwin was left out the amount of left-handers that Australians have in the line-up. There is no doubt Ashwin would bowl better late in the game to left-handers better than Yadav.

Read Steve Waugh’s full interview HERE

REVEALED: POMS’ PLAN TO NULIFY SMITH

England vice-captain Ollie Pope says the hosts will seek to make Steve Smith “uncomfortable” during the Ashes after the Australian superstar reached yet another Test century on Thursday.

Smith will enter the duel for the urn in form after posting his 31st Test ton (seven of which have come in England) on day two of the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval.

Smith has long been the bane of England’s existence. He scored a series-topping 774 runs from just four Tests during the 2019 Ashes.

But Pope said England would look to counter Smith with unorthodox methods.

“He loves batting in England, over the years he averages over 60 here now. It’s obvious he knows these conditions and he knows his game inside out, so there’s a lot of respect for him,’’ Pope said.

Australia's Steve Smith celebrates his century in the World Test Championship final.
Australia's Steve Smith celebrates his century in the World Test Championship final.

“But there’s also a lot of talented bowlers in our changing room who have worked out ways we can challenge him. I can’t say too much but there’s probably slightly different plans this time.

“He’s got his routines – his slightly longer routines – before he faces each ball and he won’t be ready until he’s done all those routines. What’s made him successful is that stubbornness and that stubbornness for runs as well. That’s exactly the bubble we’ve got to try to get him out of.

“Steve Smith is a highly-skilled batter and scores a lot of runs but I think for him we might be looking at even quirkier ways to challenge him, test him out and make him as uncomfortable as we possibly can to try to get his wicket.’’

Smith was dominant during the 2019 Ashes and scored a century against India.
Smith was dominant during the 2019 Ashes and scored a century against India.

Smith said after play on day two that he had reverted to moving more across his stumps while batting, a method that brought him huge success four years ago.

“Yeah, I quite like it for English conditions and the way the ball bounces over here,” Smith said.

“It obviously worked when I was here last time. And yeah, just the positions I get myself into, it doesn’t mean I’m going to do it all the time. I may revert back to old styles at certain periods when I feel it’s necessary, but on this surface and with the bowlers I was coming up against, I felt that was the right way forward.”

More Coverage

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/world-test-championship-final-day-three-live-scoreboard-news-from-the-oval/news-story/299c296cb8bc3260dbd059ea181779c0