The absorbing World Test Championship final is poised for a climactic conclusion, with Australia needing seven wickets on day five to lift the coveted WTC mace in London.
India, having been set a record 444-run target for victory, is 3-164 at stumps on day four, with Virat Kohli (44 not out) and Ajinkya Rahane (20 not out) unbeaten in the middle.
The odds are undeniably in Australia’s favour, but India won’t bow down without a fight, especially with a determined Kohli at the crease.
STARC SNUBBED IN ‘INTERESTING’ 4-YEAR FIRST
To the surprise of many, Mitchell Starc was denied the new ball in the second innings of the World Test Championship final against India, with Scott Boland promoted to open the bowling on Saturday afternoon.
It was the first time Starc hadn’t opened the bowling in a Test innings since the 2019 Ashes Test at Old Trafford. Before that, you have to go back to 2015.
The left-armer had a forgettable opening spell in the first innings, failing to hit the right areas and struggling to get the Dukes ball swinging. He was removed from the attack after leaking 14 runs from two overs and replaced by Boland, who had an immediate impact.
The Victorian looked more threatening, starting his spell with two maidens and accounting for the early wicket of Indian opener Shubman Gill.
It was enough evidence for Australia to throw Boland the fresh Dukes ball in the second innings, and the decision paid dividends when he removed Indian opener Shubman Gill in the eighth over for 19, albeit in controversial circumstances.
“Very interesting this from Australia, making a very positive bowling change,” Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar said in commentary.
“I get the feeling that they feel Boland was the toughest bowler that India have faced, and these conditions will definitely suit him.”
Former Australian batter Matthew Hayden continued: “He will be bang on the money from ball one. He’s metronomic in the way he approaches his bowling.
“He just presents the seam, always challenging the outside edge of off stump.
“He’s not going to have the express pace of Mitchell Starc or Pat Cummins, but he doesn’t need it.”
However, not everyone agreed with Boland’s promotion on Sunday, with former Australian captain Ricky Ponting questioning the move in commentary.
“When you think about Mitchell Starc as a bowler, he does most of his damage with the new ball,” Ponting said.
“Scott Boland, on the other hand, hasn’t (opened) for Australia in the past, and being the seam bowler that he is, I think he’s as effective with a used ball as he is with a brand new ball.”
Starc has a decent record when opening in England, taking 32 Test wickets at 31.15 across 16 innings, including a pair of five-wicket hauls during the 2015 Ashes — but Hazlewood (36 at 23.58) and Cummins (26 at 23.15) have been more effective with the new ball, particularly in 2019.
The Dukes ball traditionally doesn’t start hooping around until the lacquer wears off, which is why former Test all-rounder Brendon Julian called for Starc to be Australia’s first-change bowler in England this winter.
“I wouldn’t necessarily open the bowling with Mitch Starc in England, purely because I don’t think the Dukes ball swings early,” former Australian all-rounder Brendon Julian told Fox Cricket last month.
“When the lacquer gets off the ball and it starts to shape back in, that’s when I’d be throwing the ball to Mitch Starc as first change.”
Starc finished day four with 0-45 from seven overs, conceding 6.43 runs per over in the second innings.
STAT DISPROVES CAREY MYTH
Alex Carey finally shelved the reverse sweep, and it paid off.
The Australian wicketkeeper backed up his first-innings 48 with an unbeaten 66 on day four of the World Test Championship final, the most runs he has ever scored in a Test match.
Carey, playing his first Test in the United Kingdom, looked exceptional against the Indian quicks, driving confidently through the covers and defending safely when his stumps were under threat.
“He looks sharp. Simple technique, very still,” former Australian coach Justin Langer said in commentary.
“He looks in good control here at the moment.”
However, the South Australian looked less comfortable against Ravindra Jadeja, with the Indian tweaker regularly beating both edges of his bat on Saturday.
Carey is renowned as one of Australia’s best players of spin, but the numbers suggest otherwise — in Tests, he has averaged 47.33 against pace and 21.71 facing spin bowlers.
The left-hander is yet to be dismissed by a pace bowler in Tests this year.
“There’s a perception in Australia that he’s an excellent player of spin bowling,” Langer continued.
“The perception isn’t always reality.”
Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara continued: “You look at a player who has a sweep, a reverse sweep, all these paddles … and you think he’s got to be a good player of spin.
“Just because you have a shot doesn’t mean you’re equally adept at executing all those shots.”
Carey currently averages 34.91 with the bat in Tests. Only one Australian wicketkeeper boasts a higher average — Adam Gilchrist.
Highest Test batting average for Australian wicketkeepers
47.60 — Adam Gilchrist
34.91 — Alex Carey
32.98 — Brad Haddin
32.63 — Time Paine
29.12 — Wayne Phillips
* Minimum 10 innings
‘UNBELIEVABLE’: INDIA’S SIX-BALL DISASTER
India’s intimidating run chase got off to a superb start on Saturday afternoon, but they lost two of their most experienced batters in the space of six deliveries — and both dismissals could have been easily avoided.
Captain Rohit Sharma and No. 3 Cheteshwar Pujara combined for a 51-run partnership for the second wicket, reviving India’s innings after the controversial dismissal of opener Shubman Gill.
India was 1-91 when Nathan Lyon was introduced to the attack, and the veteran off-spinner broke through in his first over of the day.
Lyon targeted the stumps from around the wicket, and Sharma responded by bending down onto one knee, looking to sweep through fine leg — but umpire Richard Illingworth didn’t hesitate raising the dreaded finger when Sharma was struck on the front pad.
The Indian skipper sheepishly called for a review, but it proved a pointless exercise. Hawkeye showed he was plumb. Sharma, having wasted one of the team’s unsuccessful reviews, departed for 43.
“Unbelievable stuff,” former Australian batter Matthew Hayden said in commentary.
“The one opportunity Nathan Lyon had to take Rohit Sharma’s wicket was exactly that shot. That’s what he wanted him to play.”
Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar continued: “Very seldom has he been out to a beauty of a delivery. More often than not it’s wrong shot selection that has got him out.”
The following over, Australian captain Pat Cummins delivered a harmless bouncer that Pujara attempted to uppercut over the slips cordon. But rather than parry the Dukes ball towards third man, he feathered a catch off the toe-end through to jubilant wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Pujara, renowned for his patience and discipline in the Test arena, had needlessly thrown his wicket away. India has suddenly crumbled to 3-93, swinging momentum firmly back in Australia’s favour.
“Uncharacteristic shot that from Pujara,” Gavaskar said.
“This is not a shot that you see him play.”
Former Australian coach Justin Langer continued: “Having watched Pujara be the modern wall after Rahul Dravid, and breaking a lot of Australian hearts, never making mistakes, he’ll be very upset with that dismissal.”
‘HE JUST STOPS’: GREEN’S BAFFLING DISMISSAL
Cameron Green won’t be eager to watch replays of his unusual dismissal on day four of the World Test Championship final against India.
Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja, coming from over the wicket, bowled a length delivery that pitched outside the line of leg stump, and Green half-heartedly attempted to pad it away.
But the delivery turned and evaded his front pad, striking the West Australian’s gloves before bouncing back into his stumps.
Green looked back at the pegs in disbelief before trudging off the ground, dismissed for 25 after a 95-ball resistance in the middle.
His dismissal reeked of uncertainty and tentativeness — former Australian captain Ricky Ponting pointed out that Green’s shot selection was not the problem, but rather his execution.
“That’s the sign of someone who hasn’t played much of that type of bowling,” Ponting said in commentary.
“He ever actually covered the line with his pad … he just sort of stops.
“He needed to be more towards the line of that ball with his front pad.
“The other thing he could have done was get his gloves out of the way.”
Green’s strike rate of 26.31 was the second-lowest of his Test career (minimum 50 balls faced), and the 24-year-old was reluctant to attack India’s bowlers on Saturday morning. It was a stark contrast to last month’s 46-ball unbeaten century at Wankhede Stadium that secured the Mumbai Indians’ finals berth in the Indian Premier League.
