The Australian cricket team is gearing up for their much-anticipated clash against India in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2023. With the competition set to take place at Kennington Oval in London on June 7, the Australian players are making their way to the UK. However, unlike the Indian team, the Australians have decided to opt out of a warm-up match.
The Australian cricket team will arrive in London three days after the first batch of the Indian team. Star players such as Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, and Usman Khawaja are scheduled to depart for London on May 27. While some Australian stars including Marnus Labuschagne, are already in the UK playing County Cricket, the team has chosen not to participate in a warm-up match. Instead, they will rely on their county cricket experience and training sessions to acclimatize to the English conditions.
On the other hand, the Indian team, led by Rahul Dravid, is expected to play an intra-squad match as part of their preparation for the WTC Final. Discussions are also underway for a potential warm-up game against a County XI. The Indian contingent, including some players who were previously part of the Indian Premier League (IPL), is set to leave for London on May 23.
With the County Championships going on a break after May 21, the Australian players will have a short respite before regrouping in London. They will be joined by Pat Cummins and others who are currently involved in the IPL. Meanwhile, David Warner will head back home after completing his last IPL 2023 match for the Delhi Capitals on May 20, before rejoining the Australian squad in London.