*Official* World Test Championship Final at The Oval – June 7–11, 2023

[Shady Slim]

No one normal watches the Bruce Lehrmann/ Ben Roberts-Smith network.

feels good to know that my trip to japan was funded from the same pot of money that funded BRS

 

[ankitj]

Fourteen out of the 15 India players who feature in the World Test Championship (WTC) final were active in the IPL, which coursed through April and May at high intensity. Only two of the Australians - David Warner and Cameron Green - featured in the IPL, while Michael Neser, Steven Smith, Marcus Harris and Marnus Labuschagne have been playing county cricket.

Embarrassment for Indian IPL weary team guaranteed.

 

[Gob]

Took an extended break from crickets and now I don't want to get back in.

But I have to

 

[Ashes81]

I think this match sort of sums up the problem with the World Test Championship.

It should be the pinnacle of test cricket and as such should be a major event, one that both teams prioritise.

But through no fault of the teams, due to the packed nature of the modern day schedule, it doesn't feel that way.

India have just finished the IPL. Many of their players haven't played red ball cricket since God knows when.

For the Aussies, this seems like a warm up game for The Ashes. Would any Aussie fan prefer to win this over the Ashes - I very much doubt it.

Having said all that, I'm really looking forward to it and hopefully it's a really close and competitive game.

 

[honestbharani]

Took an extended break from crickets and now I don't want to get back in.

But I have to

doing ok?

 

[Zinzan]

Courtesy of cricinfo.... Quite interesting - I never knew about the 1912 tri-series

This week's World Test Championship final is being played in England, yet England are not in it. How many Tests have been played here without England in? asked George Campbell from England
The World Test Championship final between Australia and India, which is scheduled to start at The Oval on Wednesday, will be the 548th Test match played in England and Wales (three have been staged in Cardiff). This will be only the seventh not to feature England. The others were the three matches between Australia and South Africa in the 1912 Triangular Tournament, two matches between Pakistan and Australia in 2010, and the inaugural WTC final, in which New Zealand beat India, in Southampton in June 2021.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Am I the only one that doesn't really care about this at all and is just waiting for the Ashes

 

[Burgey]

No you aren't. I'm interested in it as a very good hit out for the Ashes though, and it's always good to see any India-Aus contest these days in any context tbh. It's weird having one as the entree rather than main course.

 

[honestbharani]

I wonder if folks wud feel differently had it been a 3 match series. I said it before the last WTC also. It is only fair that a league of series has a finals series instead of a finals game.

 

[Adders]

I wonder if folks wud feel differently had it been a 3 match series. I said it before the last WTC also. It is only fair that a league of series has a finals series instead of a finals game.

Yeah agree with this. The fact its a one off test realy does limit its importance and prestige I think.

 

[Molehill]

I wonder if folks wud feel differently had it been a 3 match series. I said it before the last WTC also. It is only fair that a league of series has a finals series instead of a finals game.

The timing of it makes little sense too. Aussies getting ready for the Ashes, Indians coming off the IPL. Why not wait to see which teams have qualified and play it in one of those countries?

Or maybe just scrap the whole stupid idea.....

 

[Zinzan]

While the Ashes is the main menu of the English summer, both India and Australia will very much want this WTC title, especially India as beaten finalist in 2021. I wouldn't believe for a second that players & coaching staff of either side won't care about it.

 

[Nintendo]

The timing of it makes little sense too. Aussies getting ready for the Ashes, Indians coming off the IPL. Why not wait to see which teams have qualified and play it in one of those countries?

Or maybe just scrap the whole stupid idea.....

Tbf it's not like the ICC knew that AUS and IND would be the finalists when they did the schedule (Pak had the easiest draw of the teams by a mile, and NZ has a decent schedule and where a good team. Pretty sure we didn't even have yearly WC's in the CYCLE when they planned it.

 

[Starfighter]

Pak had the easiest draw of the teams by a mile

Which went well lol

 

[Molehill]

Tbf it's not like the ICC knew that AUS and IND would be the finalists when they did the schedule (Pak had the easiest draw of the teams by a mile, and NZ has a decent schedule and where a good team. Pretty sure we didn't even have yearly WC's in the CYCLE when they planned it.

Yeah, my solution was kind of in an ideal world. But this is pretty much the only window for it this year which pretty much forces it into England. At least in London you're kind of guaranteed fans of every team to be available to attend should they want to.

What happens if this game is drawn?

 

[Zinzan]

What happens if this game is drawn?

India win on a countback of players with the most boundaries in this year's IPL.

 

[social]

This match would have far more impact if it was played at the home ground of one of the participants

No disrespect to the Kiwis but I had to think who won the first one because NZ v India at Southhampton was a non event

Play it in front of a full house at the home of the team that finished first and make it a celebration of test cricket for a week

 

[OverratedSanity]

I care about it because it's a test match after months of t20, but not sure I care about it much more than any other India test match tbh, which is a bit of a problem. Ultimately won't matter as long as it's a good game to watch I guess.

 

[social]

I care about it because it's a test match after months of t20, but not sure I care about it much more than any other India test match tbh, which is a bit of a problem. Ultimately won't matter as long as it's a good game to watch I guess.

I used to be able to watch 2 flies play test cricket for 5 days but the WI tour of Australia & the Ireland test really turned me off

Switched the Ireland test off to watch the Tigers play in the NRL and that’s really saying something

The game can’t continue to serve up one sided dross if they want test cricket to prosper so hopefully a good game

 

[Uppercut]

I'll be bringing the atmosphere by enthusiastically supporting all banter outcomes.

Speaking of which, what is Sweepathon? It sounds like something I'd have enjoyed.