Australia can clinch series with India and World Test Championship final spot with win in 5th test
Australia can clinch series with India and World Test Championship final spot with win in 5th test
Australia’s Mitchell Starc, left, and Marnus Labuschagne appeal unsuccessfully for the LBW of India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal during play on the last day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India’s Rishabh Pant avoids a shot ball from Australia’s captain Pat Cummins during play on the last day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia’s captain Pat Cummins bowls a delivery during play on the last day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India’s Shubman Gill walks off the field after losing his wicket during play on day three of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India’s captain Rohit Sharma plays a shot during play on the last day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia’s Mitchell Starc, left, and Marnus Labuschagne appeal unsuccessfully for the LBW of India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal during play on the last day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia’s Mitchell Starc, left, and Marnus Labuschagne appeal unsuccessfully for the LBW of India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal during play on the last day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India’s Rishabh Pant avoids a shot ball from Australia’s captain Pat Cummins during play on the last day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India’s Rishabh Pant avoids a shot ball from Australia’s captain Pat Cummins during play on the last day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia’s captain Pat Cummins bowls a delivery during play on the last day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia’s captain Pat Cummins bowls a delivery during play on the last day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India’s Shubman Gill walks off the field after losing his wicket during play on day three of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India’s Shubman Gill walks off the field after losing his wicket during play on day three of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India’s captain Rohit Sharma plays a shot during play on the last day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India’s captain Rohit Sharma plays a shot during play on the last day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
SYDNEY (AP) — The scenarios are clear-cut for Australia going into Friday’s final match of the five-test series with India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
If the Australians win or draw the match they will regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the first time since 2014-15. A win by India and a drawn series at 2-2 would allow the visitors to retain the trophy for a record-extending fifth consecutive time,
But more importantly for Australia, a win at the SCG would book the team’s spot in a second consecutive World Test Championship final. Australia beat India in the 2023 decider.
South Africa became the first team to qualify for the WTC final at Lord’s in June by winning a dramatic match at home to Pakistan last weekend.
On Thursday, Australia allrounder Mitch Marsh was dropped for the final match against India, giving Beau Webster a test debut. Fast bowler Mitchell Starc was also named despite dealing with rib soreness at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during Australia’s 184-run win ending Monday to take a 2-1 series lead.
The 34-year-old Starc had scans on Wednesday and received the all-clear to take his spot in a bowling lineup with captain captain Pat Cummins, Scott Boland, and Nathan Lyon.
Marsh had only been called upon for 13 overs in the past three tests, with his pace appearing well down while not taking a wicket.
Debuting in 2014, Marsh has played 46 tests for a batting average of 28.53, highlighted by three Ashes centuries. His bowling was also strong at the start of his career, with 51 wickets at an average of 40.41.
”‘Mitchy’ obviously hasn’t quite got the runs, and perhaps wickets this series,” Cummins said Thursday. “So we felt like it was time for a freshen up and Beau’s been great. It’s a shame for Mitchy, because we know how much he brings to the team, but feel like now it’s a good week for Beau (Webster) to get a chance.”
Webster has averaged 57.1 in first-class cricket since March 2022, while also picking up 81 wickets at 31.7.
Last year, the 31-year-old Webster became the first player since West Indian legend Garfield Sobers in 1963-64 to score 900 runs and take 30 wickets in a Sheffield Shield domestic season in Australia.
For India, coach Gautam Gambhir refused to guarantee that captain Rohit Sharma would play in the Sydney test. Gambhir confirmed Thursday that fast bowler Akash Deep would miss the test with a back injury, in one guaranteed change.
Sharma has failed to score more than 10 runs in any of his five innings in the series.
Asked directly whether Sharma would play, Gambhir said: “We are going to have a look at the wicket and announce our playing XI tomorrow.”
Asked again if he could guarantee the opener’s spot, Gambhir responded: “The answer remains the same.”
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Teams:
Australia: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.
India (from): Rohit Sharma (captain), Jasprit Bumrah, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket