The World Test Championship (WTC) is a prestigious tournament that spans over a two-year cycle, similar to the World Cup in T20 and ODI formats. However, the WTC has a unique structure where nine participating teams play a designated number of home and away matches before the top two teams qualify for the final showdown. Prior to the inception of the WTC, the ICC used to award the Test Mace annually to the team that finished as the number one ranked side, but the introduction of the championship added more value to Test cricket.

In the inaugural cycle of the WTC, New Zealand emerged as the champions. Now, at The Oval, starting from June 7, India and Australia will battle it out to claim the title in the final. As we approach this highly-anticipated clash, let’s delve into some important details regarding the match.

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The weather forecast predicts mostly sunny conditions from Day 1 (Wednesday) to Day 4 (Saturday), with a slight possibility of clouds on the latter day. However, Day 5 (Sunday) is expected to have scattered afternoon showers, making the Reserve Day crucial, just as it was in the 2021 final. Two years ago, the opening day of the final was washed out due to rain, resulting in the match extending to a sixth day.

In the event of a draw or a tie, the WTC trophy will be shared between India and Australia, highlighting the significance of the Reserve Day. Both teams will be vying to secure a decisive victory and avoid a shared outcome.

🇦🇺 v 🇮🇳

Everything you need to know about the World Test Championship Final between Australia and India 👇#WTC23 | #AUSvIND https://t.co/6gLnMLkKsD

— ICC (@ICC) June 6, 2023

The cricketing world eagerly awaits the thrilling clash between India and Australia in the WTC final. It promises to be a battle of skill, strategy, and determination as the two powerhouses of Test cricket vie for the coveted championship title.

Australia Squad:

Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Michael Neser, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Josh Inglis, Todd Murphy, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.

Reserves: Mitch Marsh, Matt Renshaw

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India Squad:

Rohit Sharma (captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, KS Bharat, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadakt, Umesh Yadav.

Reserves: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav