Watch: Mohammed Shami knocks over Marnus Labuschagne in ICC WTC final

Mohammed Shami sent back Marnus Labuschagne for 26 in the first innings.

India started nicely in the first hour of the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval. Mohammed Siraj sent opener Usman Khawaja (0) early in the innings. After Khawaja’s departure, Marnus Labuschagne (26) with David Warner (43) weathered the storm against India’s pace attack. Australia finished off the first session with 73/2, with both openers going back. Marnus Labuschagne was cautious throughout his innings and was watching the ball closely. But just after the play resumed after the lunch break, Shami rattled Labuschagne with a brilliant full-length delivery. Labuschagne’s departure has also given India an edge over Australia to begin the second session of the game. 

Shami castled Labuschagne

Mohammed Shami in the first ball of his spell after lunch started brilliantly with a full-ball around the off stump. Labuschagne missed the line and went for a lusty drive around mid-off region but he also misjudged the pace of the ball. This resulted in Labuschagne leaving a big gap between the bat and pad and gave the ball a chance to rattle the wooden work. Shami’s wicket brought life back to India's pace bowling unit and put Australia on the back foot. Australia with a decent partnership between Warner and Labuschagne ended up the first session on a slightly higher note than India.

India have gone with 4 seamers attack against Australia. They have picked Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, and Mohammed Shami as the leader of the attack. Since Labuschagne’s wicket, Shami has been bowling outstandingly well to trouble the Aussie middle order. India dropped Ravi Ashwin for an extra seamer in the game. Travis Head will be the biggest threat to India with his counter-attacking approach. Ashwin could have come useful against left-hander Travis Head at The Oval wicket.