After dominant performances on the first two days in the World Test Championship final (WTC), Australia were left with a balanced game against India at The Oval on the third day on Friday, June 9. Ajinkya Rahane And Shardul Thakur helped India avoid the follow-on as they managed to post 295 in reply to Australia’s first innings score of 469.
Although India picked up four wickets on Day 3, Australia took a 296-run lead with Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green batting in the middle. Alex Carey to come next. The highest successful run chase in the fourth innings at The Oval is 263 runs, so it will be Australia’s game to lose in the last two days.
But according to star Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc, Australia are looking to extend their lead on the fourth day and are not looking to declare their innings too soon.
“I haven’t spoken to Pat (captain) Pat Cummins) Still, so I don’t know and it’s not my decision, but I think we’ll continue to bat for now,” Starc told the ICC after the third day’s play. “Give us still to play Got the time of day. The weather has been nice and I think it will be hot tomorrow. Hopefully the pitch will start making some more moves but as far as I know, we are still going to bat tomorrow.”
The pitch at The Oval is expected to favor the fast bowlers on the fourth and fifth days, but Starc said the surface has been inconsistent in the WTC final and will play a few tricks.
“It’s certainly showing more signs of inconsistency as we go along,” Stark said. “It seems a good toss to lose. But yeah, I think clearly with the weather we’ve had and the weather coming in, it could play some other trick. I think it’s going to be 29 (degrees) tomorrow. ) and a bit of sunshine over the weekend, so it could play a few more tricks as the game progresses.”