Live updates, ICC World Test Championship Final, Australia vs India ...

7 Jun 2023

Australia and India, the two top-ranked Test sides in the world, lock horns at The Oval to decide who will be the second ICC World Test Champions.

Australia vs India - Figure 1
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Follow all the day one action in our live blog, check out the live scorecard, or listen on ABC Radio.

Key events1 hours agoWed 7 Jun 2023 at 10:09am 8th over - Marnus hit on thumb by Siraj1 hours agoWed 7 Jun 2023 at 9:48am OUT! KHAWAJA IS OUT!2 hours agoWed 7 Jun 2023 at 9:12am Australia team
19th over - Yadav has got another over to play with

His line was better for much of the last over, but Rohit will want him to cut out those short wide ones and build some pressure.

Warner defends the first.

And screams "NO RUN" as he fends the second, played well, high on the bat, into the off side. Good footwork there from Warner, that's not been a feature of his batting over the past year, so a good sign for Australia.

CUT IN HALF! Oh good ball, Warner wanted to cut but it was so close it's almost whacked him on the thigh! He did well to avoid that.

Well left, outside off, on length more than anything, the ball passing by the fourth stump line but at waist height.

He has to defend that one off his thigh pad though.

A much better over from Yadav.

Australia vs India - Figure 2
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Rare picture of Virat Kohli with both his feet on the ground...
(Getty Images)

He really has been bobbing up and down in the slips like he's part of a keep fit class. It's been extraordinary. Very hyperactive.

18th over - Shardul carries on

That's the first real short ball of the day from Shardul, that has Warner guessing a little.

Warner fends to backward point and takes a single.

FOUR! Bit wide, bity short, punched through point for a boundary to Labuschagne.

BIG SHOUT! THAT LOOKED GOOD! On the front foot, will Rohit want a look at this one? Yes he will! Rohit signalled for that behind his back, for some reason... Bizarre stuff.

That looked good live.

On replay... might be a touch high again, and possibly sliding down.

There is no bat involved.

That is missing everything, so it will be a lost review for India. It looked closer than the first shout live, to me anyway, but the ball actually was missing that time.

Bump ball, Marnus plays the ball into the ground and it's caught on the follow through by Shardul for no run.

Marnus in the wars

Both blows would have hurt I think MikeR.

Australia vs India - Figure 3
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Something to keep our eyes on - Australia won't want any injuries.

17th over - Yadav is given another chance

Pressure is on Yadav here, he's been taken for a few already by Warner and needs to tighten up his line a bit.

Warner defends a straighter ball from over the wicket.

Too wide again and Warner slaps it away to deep point for a single. Rubbish from Yadav really, even though he how has the protection out there.

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Yadav sends the ball past the outside of Marnus' off stump, left well alone.

That's better, Marnus is struck on the hand again by another rising delivery on that right thumb, just a glancing blow this time.

Marnus defends the next that's pitched on his off stump.

Well wide outside off, full and swinging away, Marnus leaves well alone.

16th over - Shardul continues

Yadav is feeling the pressure, but Shardul is bowling nicely.

Marnus is batting a good half metre outside his crease to account for the swing, and he watches as the ball flies past his outside edge, swinging away.

Get a ball to swing in and the Aussie batters might be in trouble with all these outswingers.

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Another outswinger passes past the outside edge.

THERE'S THE INSWINGER! It's a beauty too, passing between the bat and Marnus' body. He was a touch fortunate there, Marnus. A lovely ball.

BIG SHOUT! Was it high? India like it and Rohit Sharma is being press-ganged by everyone here and he raises his hands and goes for the review!

I think it's too high. Might even be going down leg.

There is no bat involved.

It is hitting the stumps, but only just, umpires call. A touch high and a touch leg side to be overturned.

Marnus pushes away in front of his body to mid on for no run to end another good over from Shardul.

15th over - Yadav continues

Warner drives nicely away from his body, risky against a moving ball, and finds the cover fielder for no run.

FOUR! Now he cuts perfectly between point and short cover, perfectly between the two fielders, in the air, but very safe. Nicely timed.

Warner leaves the next.

Yadav has decided to to around the wicket.

FOUR! And Warner decides the angle doesn't matter, if it's short and wide outside off he'll cut it square for four!

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Interesting times for India, here, Warner is taking the attack to the bowlers who had the upper hand in the first hour.

FOUR! Short, Warner cuts up off the top edge and away for a one-bounce for to third man.

50 partnership for Warner and Labuschange

FOUR! Lovely from Warner! Too wide from Yadav and it's a fourth boundary of the over, backward of point, perfectly guided by Warner who is playing beautifully!

Ric Finlay stat alert

Here's a stat for you from ABC Stato Ric Finlay.

I hope you're staying up all night with me Ric, I could do with the stats...

14th over - It's Shardul Thakur

Didn't see him in India during the last Border-Gavaskar series, but he's in the side here and on the money straight away, beating Labuschange. Nicely bowled.

Labuschagne defends the next couple solidly.

BEATEN! What a ball, great length and line from Shardul. Marnus played inside the line and was a whisker away from being gone.

FOUR! Swing, but a touch too full and Marnus drives beautifully and gets four runs.

Two slips and a gully, Marnus defends to mid on for no run.

Cold weather kit

Bet the Australian team uniform designers were happy to finally get the chance to whip out the team beanie and tracksuit. Not often you see winter clothing in a summer sport!

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- Josh

I'm here for it — I like bobbles on hats.

(Getty Images)(Getty Images)

I also especially the Tadej Pogačar-style speed curl for Michael Neser #NicheCyclingReference

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13th over - time for a change, Umesh Yadav to bowl

Marnus takes a single off a thick outside edge to backward point.

FOUR! Warner drives as the sun peeks through for the first time today, a lovely drive through to wide mid off. Lovely shot.

Three slips as Warner defends the next ball.

Now he attempts a cut but doesn't get good-enough contact.

Now there's only two slips, the man moving to the covers.

BEATEN! What a ball, just moving away as Warner plays inside the line. Up goes Virat again on his trampoline.

Warner sees another go across him and leaves it alone this time, a bit more width to reduce the alarm.

It has been a bit up and down

I don't mind a green strip so long as it's not a minefield and I'm not batting on it. Are we seeing irregular bounce here Simon ?

- Old timer

Siraj in particular has had the ball skidding through and rearing up a bit off the seam.

Australia vs India - Figure 7
Photo ABC News
(AP)

But it's been a pretty even battle so far it has to be said.

Batters will have to work hard for their runs.

12th over - Siraj to have a sixth over in this opening spell

It might be his sixth over of the spell, but Siraj is just warming up it seems. He sends that first one down at 144kph, the fastest of the day so far, which Marnus defends nonchalantly back down the pitch.

Marnus defends the next.

There's some swing outside off, wide outside the off stump though so Marnus leaves well alone.

Marnus clips off his pads through wide mid on but he won't get four, a lovely chase and stop that gets the plaudits from the bowler. Three runs for the Queenslander.

BEATEN! SIraj tugs at his lip as he see the ball fly through to the keeper - who drops it. More wobble after pitching making things difficult.

Warner defends the last.

And it's time for a drink.

Very pro-India crowd

What's the crowd like Simon? Mostly Indian, Aussie, or a mix of interested neutrals?

- Josh

The crowd is mostly in favour of India, but here have been Aussies shown on the TV, so there are some there.

Australia vs India - Figure 8
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(Getty Images)
11th over - Shami to bowl his sixth over

Warner defends solidly into the off side.

"NO RUN!" screams Warner as he defends back down the pitch.

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Wild shot from Warner, a lapse of concentration as he swung at a wide one. He smiles, but he was not far from getting a slither of bat on that.

Warner shoulders arms and leaves the ball alone as it flies through to the wicketkeeper.

FOUR! Warner pulls a short ball brilliantly away through midwicket for a boundary, lovely shot.

Warner leaves the last with a real exaggerated sway of his body.

10th over - Siraj carries on

Leg gully is still in place as Marnus leaves outside off to a ball that did not bounce at all there, taken well behind the stumps by Bharat on his knees.

Siraj starts running in, Marnus backs away, and I doubt that will improve relations too much between these two...

BEATEN! Oh my word that's a hard ball to play, sliding on again and beating the outside edge. Not much bounce, Marnus looks quizzically at the ball and pitch.

BEATEN AGAIN! The pressure ramps up a notch, that ball seaming away off the pitch and beating the outside edge. Virat Kohli has been bouncing up and down like he's on a trampoline out there at second slip with every ball that beats the edge. He'll need to start conserving his energy or else he'll be all tuckered out by the time we get to tea...

Australia vs India - Figure 9
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Marnus wants to play into the midwicket region but gets a leading edge, back down the pitch, he grimaces and there is no run.

The crowd are really getting into this match here, Marnus walks away again to delay things and refocus.

BIG SHOUT! Marnus his hit on the pads but umpire Illingworth shakes his head and India decline the review.

9th over - Shami continues

Marnus leaves outside off as the India slip cordon groans and gasps.

Marnus clips a fuller ball off his pads to square leg, but there is no run. 138kph but Marnus looked to have to wait on that a bit there.

Nice swing, early though so Marnus had the time to just leave it outside off. A dangerous delivery if he felt like driving.

More swing, a fair bit of it too, Marnus again leaves and made that decision pretty early.

Oh my, Marnus defends that ball but it went through his defences and almost bounced onto the stumps. Would have been a shocking way to get out.

Marnus clips the last, leg-side delivery away to deep midwicket for a single.

8th over - Marnus hit on thumb by Siraj

HIT HIM! Siraj gets one to rear up and slam into Marnus' right thumb! Oh my word! Warning for Australia here! That was a hard shot! He dropped the bat instantly like a cartoon character surprised by an exploding box. That ball did explode off the pitch and Marnus is getting treatment now.

Australia vs India - Figure 10
Photo ABC News
(AP)

He was trying to leave that ball but was hit hard. He takes a painkiller or two. He's smiling, so one would assume it is not broken...

(Getty Images)

Is this heart in mouth stuff ahead of the Ashes for Australia?

Marnus has got some new gum in his mouth and is fronting up to Siraj again.

EDGED! Just short of third slip! Thick edge, soft hands, all saved Marnus there, but he is on the ropes here, with Siraj lining up some punches.

Marnus clips through midwicket for three runs. Good stuff from Marnus, and good running from both players.

Warner fends into the off side, no run to cover.

Siraj holds his head in anguish as Warner comes close to playing on, the ball just hitting the base of his bat, skidding on off the pitch.

Warner defends the last.

Can Warner stay in the team until Sydney?

So glad to be with you again Simon! Go Aussies!! PS interesting that Warner thinks he’ll be in the team until Sydney…

- Steph in Melbourne

I'll say it quietly (for the second time this evening), but he's started very well here under difficult conditions.

Australia vs India - Figure 11
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7th over - Shami to Warner

Warner shouts no as loudly as he can and there is no run to point.

(Getty Images)

Shami angles that ball in towards Warner and he clips the ball off his pads for a single to backward square leg. A wry smile from Shami.

Marnus drives straight out of the text book and to the fielder at cover, who makes the sort of stop that generates a polite round of applause at this time of the morning at a Test match. A good stop to save runs.

DANGER! Left by Marnus but the ball nipped back in a mile and rapped him on the thigh pad. Was never going to hit the stumps but it should be a warning for Marnus.

Marnus defends that one a bit more conventionally into the off side.

Four slips, fine leg, mid off, mid on, backward point and square leg is the field.

Marnus drops and runs and gets a single to mid off to end the over.

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