India's chances of reaching the World Test Championship finals (WTC) took a major hit as they slipped to the fifth spot in standings following their embarrassing 0-2 series whitewash to South Africa at home.
The Australian team will prepare for the six Tests by undergoing a high-intensity training camp in Beckenham, featuring centre-wicket practice and net sessions.
India overtook Australia after their thumping 295-run win in the first Test in Perth.
Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald backs the pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood to play the 2027 ODI World Cup, but admitted that Cricket Australia (CA) need to invest in their bodies to set the star pacers up for 2027.
India head coach Ravi Shastri on Wednesday said the ICC World Test Championship final should be a best-of-three affair in the long run and not a one-off match like his side is set to play against New Zealand in the inaugural edition.
Team India is all set to take on Australia in the final of the ICC World Test Championship final from Wednesday at The Oval and this 'Ultimate Test' also brings with it a set of milestones that players can establish during the course of the match.
When Kohli asked Jamieson to bowl with the Dukes to him in the nets, the New Zealander did not fall for that trick.
Panesar feels the concept of WTC is a great advertisement of Test cricket and the former spinner went on to term the summit clash as an encounter similar to arch-rivals India and Pakistan playing a Test match or the Ashes.
Ponting said at the end of the day it comes down to individual preparation.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the WTC Final played between Australia and India at The Oval in London on Thursday.
'I know he is on record saying that the Test match game is probably a little bit hard on his body. But for a one-off game... he's been bowling every game through this IPL and he's bowling quick.'
Young opener Shubman Gill is looking in good rhythm and should continue to open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma in the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand, former India batsman VVS Laxman said on Tuesday.
For the Indian captain and his team, the WTC final is like their Test debuts as young players trying to come up the ranks.
India's fielding coach Ramakrishnan Sridhar ruled out the possibility of a change in the playing XI after the opening day of the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand was washed out.
It was India's fourth loss in the current WTC cycle, causing their PCT to drop from 68.06 to 62.82.
The 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final will be played at the iconic Lord's cricket ground from June 11 to 15 next year.
Ricky Ponting believes that India will play both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in the World Test Championship final against Australia, starting June 7.
Doull said New Zealand were definitely benefited by the two games against England ahead of the marquee clash.
For Pat Cummins's side, the addition of Flower to the coaching staff will only add more to the expectations as they strive to become the first Australian team to win an Ashes series in England since 2001.
India should look at Shardul Thakur over Mohammad Siraj as the fourth fast bowling option in the side for the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand in case of overcast conditions in Southamptom, said former selector Sarandeep Singh.
South Africa are the World Test champions and skipper Temba Bavuma wants them to play like it and prove their credentials in the two-Test series against India beginning on Friday.
The five-Test away series against India next year is set to be a decisive phase in an unprecedented and taxing schedule for Pat Cummins' ageing side.
The current WTC system awards the same number of points -- 12 for a win, six for a tie and four for a draw -- which has given rise to discontent that India, England and Australia -- the Big Three in cricket -- "are disadvantaged as they play more games against each other".
Shubman Gill celebrated his maiden Test series win as India completed a 2-0 sweep over West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
'Rain to start in Southampton means coffee and a chat watching the covers to start the day.
Australia will have to dust off the cobwebs but are still fancied to successfully defend their World Test Championship crown against equally ring-rusty South Africa in the final at Lord's.
'It gave the viewers that spectacle, with three possible results going into the final session. I think we saw similar characteristics on this wicket when we played against England.'
Dravid insisted his team is not feeling any pressure going into the World Test Championship final against Australia.
'We have seen both teams not having played Test matches for a couple of months. So, it is a one-off. Anything can happen. I will sit on the fence'
Warner has also taken aim at his Ashes nemesis England veteran pacer Stuart Broad, implying that he will not be the force that derailed the opening batter's 2019 trip this time.
The match might end in a draw if inclement weather continues to play spoilsport.
BJ Watling will be retiring from international cricket after the tour of England.
Kohli didn't name anyone but expressed his displeasure at some of the players not showing enough intent to score runs
To express solidarity with those affected, Team India will wear black armbands, the BCCI said in a statement.
New Zealand vice-captain Tom Latham says losing the first day to rain will not change their approach to team selection.
Asked about losing yet another toss, Gill quipped, 'I think the only toss that I'm going to win is hopefully in the WTC finals.'
Former pacer Venkatesh Prasad feels that a high-on-resources India has got all bases covered to get past a high-on-confidence New Zealand in the ICC World Test Championship final, starting in Southampton from June 18.
'That's great for our team and in a way Ashes are bloody hard to win. It's not going to be easy but if we were to win it, that is legacy defining stuff.'
Rajneesh Gupta offers insights about the World Test Championship Final.
India and New Zealand will fight it out for the inaugural title at Southampton's Ageas Bowl
