India and Australia are currently locked in a thrilling battle in the ICC World Test Championship final 2023, which commenced at London’s Kennington Oval Stadium on Wednesday. After falling short in the inaugural edition of the championship against New Zealand, India is determined to clinch the WTC title this time around. As anticipation builds for this high-stakes showdown, former cricketer Brad Hogg predicts Australia’s victory due to their exceptional preparation.
Highlighting the significance of preparation, Hogg expressed confidence in Australia’s advantage over India, citing the extensive groundwork done by the Australian team for the longer format. The former spinner believes this meticulous preparation will prove decisive in determining the winner of the Test.
The contrasting preparation approaches of the two teams further fuel Hogg’s prediction. While Indian players were occupied with the IPL 2023 from March 31 to May 28, several Australian players, including Pat Cummins and Steve Smith, were focused on preparing for the ICC event and the Ashes 2023. Hogg also expressed bewilderment at the scheduling of the World Test Championship final after the IPL, suggesting that it would have been more appropriate to hold it immediately following the India vs. Australia Test series in March.
Hogg emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum and ensuring both teams enter the final on equal footing. He criticized the ICC for allowing such contrasting levels of preparation for the pinnacle event of Test cricket.