The preparation of the pitch at the Oval for the World Test Championship Final between Australia and India has raised some eyebrows. Images of a green surface were shared by Dinesh Karthik, the senior Indian wicketkeeper-batter who will be commentating on the match. This prompted a response from former English captain Michael Vaughan.
The highly anticipated clash between India and Australia is seen as a chance for redemption for the Indian team. However, the pictures of a greenish pitch at the Oval, circulating on social media, suggest that the Australians may have an advantage, particularly in the early stages of the match.
Dinesh Karthik, who is still a part of India’s white-ball setup, shared the latest images of the venue, highlighting the covering of green grass on the pitch. Although he mentioned that the grass length had been significantly reduced, Michael Vaughan responded to his tweet, recommending that the team winning the toss should opt to bowl first.
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Michael Vaughan believes that the overcast conditions on the opening day will favor the seam bowlers. He also expects the pitch to become more conducive to slower bowlers as the match progresses, similar to the traditional nature of the Oval pitch.
It will play very very well .. and will get better & better so I would bowl first .. especially if clouds are around tomorrow 👍 https://t.co/fLr7kZWE6q
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 6, 2023
Vaughan’s suggestion is based on the assumption that the cloud cover will assist the seam bowlers early on. By bowling first, the team winning the toss can take advantage of these conditions. As the match progresses, Vaughan believes that the pitch will offer less assistance to the seamers and more to the spinners.
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The pitch at the Oval for the World Test Championship Final has certainly sparked discussions and predictions about the conditions and the potential impact on the match. Both teams will need to assess the pitch carefully and make strategic decisions based on their understanding of how it is likely to behave over the course of the game.
