The ICC World Test Championship Final at The Oval has provided fans with an enthralling display of top-class cricket. As the match enters its fifth and final day, all four results are still within reach, ensuring an exhilarating conclusion to this ultimate test. Let\u2019s take a closer look at the cricketers who have shone throughout the game and are in contention for the prestigious Aramco Player of the Match award.<\/p>\n
Travis Head:<\/strong>\u00a0Travis Head\u2019s fearless approach to the game was on full display during Australia\u2019s first innings. He attacked the Indian bowlers, providing the much-needed impetus to his team\u2019s innings. Head\u2019s aggressive knock of 163, which included 18 boundaries, not only stabilized Australia but also put pressure on India\u2019s bowling unit.<\/p>\n Steve Smith: <\/strong>While Travis Head stole the headlines, Steve Smith played a vital supporting role. Smith showcased his ability to score prolifically on English soil, providing the anchor while Head attacked from the other end. Smith\u2019s composed innings of 121 played a crucial part in Australia\u2019s first innings total and his contribution of 34 in the second innings further boosted his team\u2019s chances.<\/p>\n Alex Carey:<\/strong> Alex Carey\u2019s contributions with both bat and gloves should not go unnoticed. With the bat, Carey played vital cameos of 48 in the first innings and an unbeaten 66* in the second innings, helping Australia build substantial totals. Behind the stumps, Carey displayed his dependability, taking three catches under challenging conditions.<\/p>\n Mohammed Siraj: <\/strong>Despite conceding a significant total in the first innings, Mohammed Siraj\u2019s relentless efforts with the ball kept India\u2019s hopes alive. Siraj\u2019s four-wicket haul in Australia\u2019s first innings showcased his ability to trouble the opposition batsmen, particularly in challenging conditions. He continued his impressive form in the second innings, dismissing David Warner early and limiting Australia\u2019s early charge.<\/p>\n Ajinkya Rahane<\/strong>: Thrown into a challenging situation, Ajinkya Rahane exhibited resilience and counter-attacking prowess. His crucial innings of 89 provided stability to India\u2019s first innings and showcased his ability to take the game to the opposition. Rahane\u2019s contribution will be pivotal as India resumes its chase on the final day.<\/p>\n Virat Kohli<\/strong>: For India to stage a remarkable comeback on the final day, it will require a special innings from the captain himself. Despite a modest score of 14 in the first innings, Virat Kohli has already shown glimpses of his prowess in the second innings. With an unbeaten 44*, he has kept India\u2019s hopes alive and his performance will be crucial in setting up a potential victory.<\/p>\n Pat Cummins:<\/strong> Australian skipper Pat Cummins has been a key figure in both innings. His three-wicket haul in India\u2019s first innings helped restrict the opposition\u2019s scoring rate. Cummins\u2019 bowling prowess was evident again in the second innings when he dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara, pegging India back. His leadership on the field and contribution with the ball make him a strong contender for the Player of the Match award.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The ICC World Test Championship Final at The Oval has provided fans with an enthralling display of top-class cricket. As\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":250,"featured_media":29278,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1734,3643],"class_list":["post-6358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cricket","tag-wtc-final","tag-wtc-final-2023"],"reading_time":"3 min read","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6358","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/250"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6358"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6358\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6358"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/sports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}