WTC Final 2023: India is going to play WTC Final 2023 on 7th June 2023 at The Oval Cricket Ground, England. The Duke’s ball will be used in the World Test Championship final between India and Australia.
WTC Final 2023: Duke’s Ball
- India and Australia are used to different balls in their home Tests (SG and Kookaburra, respectively).
- The Duke’s ball adds a different dynamic to the contest.
- The Duke’s ball in England makes batting at the top of the order challenging.
- The Dukes ball is darker and provides a conventional swing for a longer time.
- Bowlers enjoy bowling with the Dukes ball in English conditions.
- The Dukes and SG balls are hand-stitched and assist the bowlers for longer.
- The Kookaburra ball is machine-stitched and becomes more batter-friendly over time.
- The Dukes ball has a more prominent seam, which enables movement in the air.
- The Dukes ball has more lacquer, keeping the shine on one side for longer and providing movement throughout its use.
- Surfaces in England require balls like Dukes for good cricket.
- The older Dukes ball can get spinners more into play compared to the Kookaburra.
Australia’s Advantage
The Oval and Old Trafford ground in England resemble Australian conditions, giving Australia a slight advantage.
Bowling attacks from Australia and India
- Australia’s bowling attack includes Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Scott Boland/Michael Neser.
- Mohammed Shami will lead the Indian attack. Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin/Umesh Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja will be another bowler.
- The Duke’s ball makes the job of batsmen tougher.
- Batsmen need to devise strategies to counter the threats and score runs.
India in WTC 2021 Final
- In the 2021 WTC final, India struggled against New Zealand’s seamers with the Dukes ball.
- Batsmen need to be careful with shot selection due to the ball’s movement.
- Judging the off-stump and leaving the ball are crucial skills in English conditions with the Dukes ball.
- Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul had success as an opening pair in England in 2021.
- Their experience can be utilized to face the Australian pace attack at The Oval.
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