Xtra Time Web Desk: Australia’s spin spearhead Nathan Lyon feels it will be a huge test match facing India in the upcoming World Test Championships final to be played at the Oval from June 7-11. Lyon will lead Australia’s spin challenge in the much-anticipated test match.
“Huge World Test Championships final coming up. It’s the World Cup of test cricket. I think it will be a big test match,” Cummins said in an interview to Cricket.com.au
Meanwhile the Australian test players have started their preparations in full swing ahead of the upcoming World Test Championships Final against India. Australian test captain Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc has been training at the Sydney Cricket Ground nets.
Cummins, who have decided against playing in the ongoing IPL 2023 for Kolkata Knight Riders has recently started working on his fitness and skills to ensure he is perfect shape for the WTC Final.
Cummins will be returning to cricket after taking a break during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to his mother falling ill. Unfortunately, his mother passed away in March this year.
The Australian players will assemble later this month before travelling to London on June 3. Most of the test players are currently playing in the ongoing IPL 2023. They will join the squad as soon their IPL commitments are over.
Few players like Steve Smith (Sussex), Marcus Harris (Gloucestershire) and Marnus Labuschagne (Glamorgan) are already in the UK playing County Cricket. With the County Championships going into a break after May 21, they will link up the with the squad after a short break.
The World Test Championship final is the culmination of a two-year-long competition that features the top two Test-playing nations. India and Australia have secured their place in the final after finishing as the top two teams in the league stage. The final is scheduled to be played at The Oval, London from 7 to 11 June 2023, with a reserve day in place on 12 June.
While Aussies have an eye on the WTC Final, their focus remains on the Ashes which follows immediately after the WTC Final.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, David Warner