As the much-anticipated final day of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final between India and Australia approaches, cricket experts Nasser Hussain and Kumar Sangakkara provided insights into the condition of the pitch at the Oval.
With the temperature hovering around 30 degrees and a 40% chance of rain, the possibility of a thunderstorm looms over the match. However, the reserve day provides a buffer in case of any interruptions.
The experts noted a significant change in the pitch, transitioning from green grass to dry grass. This alteration has resulted in lower bounce, which could pose challenges for the batsmen. Additionally, there are some footholes on the pitch that could affect left-handed batsmen, while right-handers might not face as many difficulties.
Considering the state of the ball, there could be a chance for reverse swing, but the bowlers would need to put in extra effort to extract movement. The pitch at the Oval has defied expectations, as it has actually improved over time, contrary to its usual deterioration.
More to follow…