ICC WTC final, AUS vs IND: 5 Australian players to watch out for

Here we take a look at 5 Australian players to watch out for in the ICC WTC final against India at The Oval, London.

Australia are preparing big to take on India in their first-ever World Test Championship final. Australia had a great 2021-23 session with red-ball cricket and became the first team to qualify for the finals. They dominated England in the Ashes, South Africa, and West Indies in bilaterals down under, won a series in Pakistan, and played a 1-1 draw in Sri Lanka.

They only had a disappointing tour of India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year in the 2021-23 cycle for the World Test Championship. Overall in 19 tests they won 11 and lost only 3, one against Sri Lanka and two against India. 

Australia will be looking to challenge team India with their brute pace attack in England. Josh Hazlewood, Captain Pat Cummins, and left-arm Mitchell Starc will enter with fresh legs in the game. Indian openers have been vulnerable against left-arm bowlers who deliver inswingers.

Not only in bowling, but the Australian batting order also looks like a challenging one to crack for the Indian bowlers, who are coming from a two-month-long Indian Premier League. The biggest threat for the Indian pace attack will be Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, and Cameron Green. Here are the top 5 players with key roles in the Australian XI. 

Top 5 Australian players to watch out for in the ICC WTC final:

1 . Marnus Labuschagne 

Number 3 of any team plays an important role in test cricket. For Australia, Marnus Labuschagne has that role under his control. Labuschagne has been a wonderful campaigner for Australia as the Number 3 batter, replacing his guru Steve Smith who is down to bat at number 4. Labuschagne was playing in the County championship for Glamorgan and smashed 2 centuries and 2 half-centuries in 8 innings. Labuschagne will have a big role against the Indian attack. 

2. Travis Head 

Australia’s number 6 Travis Head will have a big job in his hand. Head is known for his counter-attacking approach during his innings and Head’s style of play will come in handy for Australia with evolving test cricket in recent years. Head had a decent time in India with 2 fifty-plus scores on rank turners. This shows he can tackle Ravi Ashwin despite being a left-hand batter at The Oval, which will be much better than what he batted on earlier this year. 

3. Cameron Green 

Australia’s 20 tests old all-rounder has become a star for the future with his outstanding performance in all three formats of the game. Recently he had a wonderful maiden IPL season as well. Played crucial knocks for the Mumbai Indians. Green will be taking charge of the Lower middle order with Travis Head and Alex Carey. Green’s bowling ability will also be useful for the Australians to manage the workload of their top 3 pacers. 

4. Pat Cummins 

Australian captain will be making a comeback after an injury break to play his 50th test for Australia. Cummins went back after the first two tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to a family emergency. Cummins as a leader has done a great job for Australia to get him into the WTC final. His movement of the wicket at The Oval will bring a challenge against the Indian batting order. 

5. Mitchell Starc

Only the left-arm pacer in the Australian eleven will play a massive role against the Indian top order. Indian top order especially, two big names, Virat and Rohit have struggled against left-arm pacers bringing the ball into their pads. Starc will be trying to use the same method against two big names in the batting order. He was away from action in the last two months, preparing for the two big assignments that he got in the upcoming days, one against India and the against England.