Live Coverage: Day One of World Test Championship Final between Australia and India | The Guardian

A review of India’s match against Australia is underway and it looks close. There is speculation that Thakur might have pinned Labuschagne. However, the only question is his height.

Liam Stanley has given an interesting perspective on contemporary cricket. Despite its faults, it’s incredible that a World Test Championship is being played in London. It is unexpected that India and Australia are playing a Test match at the Oval, and the neutrality of the venue is a thrilling feature. Liam suggests that it would be fascinating to see England vs Australia played in India as a neutral venue Test match fixture.

The second WTC final is being played in England after the first was in Southampton, which is a shame as it is a global event and was billed as the pinnacle of the format. It’s disappointing that it is staying in the same country for two consecutive cycles, when it could have been played in South Africa, Sri Lanka or New Zealand. Nonetheless, it’s a brilliant spectacle and despite the inequities in our game, we can still enjoy it.

The Australian team is putting up a good fight, with Warner and Labuschagne playing some impressive shots. They are better prepared for the upcoming Ashes than England, who almost failed to bowl out Ireland and had a less challenging warm-up game.

After an hour of play, it’s difficult to say which team is happier. India might be leading on points due to the early wicket, but Australia is fighting back with some excellent batting. There has been some captivating cricket and some excellent shots played so far.

10th over: Australia 22-1 (Warner 13, Labuschagne 8) Siraj has been outstanding, finding his area with a back of a length delivery to Labuschagne with a hint of away seam. Labuschagne dangles his bat out and risks feeling the ball occasionally, but Siraj beats his half-forward press with a full delivery that thuds the pads with a wobble seam that ducks off the pitch. A maiden of the highest order.

"Hi Dan - writing from a slow day at work here in Delhi. Don't know why they have scheduled this fixture from Wed to Sun, considering tests (especially those involving India) rarely go the full length - Thu to Mon was the better option. What do you and other OBOers think?"

Thanks for that, Mittu Choudhary. More than happy to distract you from your work.

It's a good question. My guess is that it's already such a packed summer with The Hundred squeezing the Ashes. So, if they wanted to get this one in, they had to start it on a Wednesday.

9th over: Australia 22-1 (Warner 13, Labuschagne 8) Shami follows five perfect balls around a fourth stump line with a splayed delivery onto Labuschagne's pads, but the Aussie batter just flicks it with a flourish for a single.

"Hi Dan. Sorry if I've missed this but can you clarify whether a Dukes or Kookaburra ball is being used for this test? Unsure of the rules for the WTC final being played in England?"

No need to apologise, Martin Fisher, it's a good question.

It's a Dukes, which is great news in my opinion. I'd love to see all cricket everywhere in the world played with the pronounced seam of the English ball.

8th over: Australia 21-1 (Warner 13, Labuschagne 7) Siraj is winning the battle against Labuschagne. The captivating batter edged the delivery to third slip, but Labuschagne was playing with soft hands so it was safe. Siraj then cracks Marnus on the glove, and the physio is out taking a look.

"Good Morning Daniel, Good Morning All,"

Hey Em Jackson. All good your side? These two sides are doing pretty good so far it must be said, but the question for me with Marnus Labuschange in at the moment is this: Glamorgan or Old South Wales?

It's gloomy, Em, if that's what you mean.

7th over: Australia 18-1 (Warner 13, Labuschagne 4) Shami brings an angled ball that catches Warner's inside edge and flies to the fine leg for a single. Labuschagne is also having a hard time facing Shami. He shoulders arms on one delivery that comes back from a distance, and then faces the next over thanks to a quickly-taken single in the covers.

6th over: Australia 16-1 (Warner 12, Labuschagne 3) Labuschagne nabs a scampered single off his hips, and Warner slashes at a bit of width to fly down deep third fence for a single too.

"Hello Daniel. A halfway decent County attack would have the Aussies all out by now!"

I'm with you, Matthew Doherty, Chris Rushworth would be tearing things up!

4th over: Australia 4-1 (Warner 2, Labuschagne 2) Siraj gets a breakthrough with a gem that left Khawaja poking at the ball from his crease, and Marnus is off the mark with a flick down to fine leg that brings him a couple.

The opening session of the World Test Championship final started off with a bang as Shami from India bowled to Warner from Australia. The pitch was green and it promised to be an exciting match. In the first over, Shami bowled excellently and Warner had trouble playing some of his deliveries. However, Warner managed to score a run off a loose delivery. In the second over, Siraj from India was bowling to Khawaja from Australia. Khawaja looked comfortable, playing some firm defensive shots and nudging the ball off his pads for a single. In the third over, Shami bowled a jaffa to Warner that left him jabbing like a punch drunk boxer. Khawaja tried to play one that angled across him but ended up feathering a catch behind. Despite the early wicket, it was a fantastic start to the match and both teams were raring to go.

As the players observed a minute's silence for the victims of a recent train crash in India, the commentators reflected on the challenges faced by cricket teams in making decisions about who to select for their playing XI. India had left out Ashwin, the number one Test bowler in the world, in favour of four seamers. Australia, on the other hand, had to make do without Josh Hazlewood. Despite these tough choices, both teams had a strong line-up and were eager to prove their mettle.

The match promised to be a test of skill and endurance for both sides, with a green pitch adding to the challenge. It was a reminder of the beauty of Test cricket, and the importance of taking your hat off to the bowler when they get it right. As the players took the field, fans and spectators around the world tuned in, eager to witness a historic match that would determine the champions of the World Test Championship.

It’s gloomy in south London. If the captains have their heads in the clouds they’ll want to have a bowl. But conventional wisdom in these parts tell you that batting first is the right option. England, though, have been going well at home bowling first regardless of the weather.

A good toss to lose I reckon.

On the surface, this promises to be a cracking game of cricket. They’re unquestionably the two best red ball teams over the last two years with superstar batters up and down the line and bowlers to match them. Chuck them all together on a lively pitch in south London and you’ve got all the ingredients of a contest for the ages.

Take a step back, though, and a far more complex narrative forms into view.

This is not simply a Test match. In many ways the future of cricket’s most antiquated but beloved iteration is at stake here. The game is struggling on its frontiers. Young players are turning their backs on it for more glitzy and lucrative codes. A dud over the next five days could be catastrophic.

Perhaps I’m being hyperbolic but this is fuelled by hyperbole. It matters because enough of us believe that it matters and history shows us that success for India in an ICC event can galvanise a format.

Their 50-over triumph in 1983 catapulted Test cricket’s rival into a new stratosphere and their victory in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup set the wheels in motion for the Indian Premier League. Perhaps success over the next five days could do something similar?

Well, not if Pat Cummins and his Aussies have anything to say about it. The men in baggy green will start as favourites. But only just. This really could go either way as we undulate over spells and sessions and days.

Test cricket. Don’t you just love it?

My name is Daniel, but feel free to call me Dan. Drop an email or send a tweet. I promise I check them all.

Play starts at 10:30 BST, 3pm IST & 7:30pm AEST. Toss and team news to follow.