All-round depth puts Australia on top of the Test world

We review the World Test Championship final between Australia and India at The Oval – which ended with a 209-run win and the Test mace for Australia. It was India’s second consecutive loss in the WTC final – and offered hints that a terrific side is likely past its peak.

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Talking Points:

• Australia’s greater depth in bowling
• Yet another missed opportunity for this Indian side to win a world title
• The height advantage – how the ‘release points’ could have made a difference
• The magnificent Mr Smith
• Did India misread the conditions on Day 1?
• Gill and Pujara leaving balls that hit the stumps
• Ashwin v Jadeja; Ashwin v Shardul; Ashwin v Umesh – the selection riddle
• Lyon’s craft to get Jadeja and Rohit out
• Rahane’s joyous return to Tests
• What next for this Indian bowling attack?
• The Rahul Dravid question

Participants:

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)

Prashant DP (@prashantdptweet) | Prashant’s cricket posts on Medium

Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Kartikeya’s Substack

Ashoka (@ABVan)

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Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout)

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Related:

• The story of the WTC final – Kartikeya Date – Cricketingview
• Boland and Cummins unleash on India – Osman Samiuddin – ESPNcricinfo
• Beware, England: Steve Smith looks like a batting immortal again – Geoff Lemon – Guardian
• Ajinkya Rahane, India’s quiet hero – Nagraj Gollapudi – ESPNcricinfo
• Ashwin’s preparation list for the WTC final – Venkata Krishna – Indian Express

Lead image from here.