India and Srilanka in Contention to book a date with Aussies in WTC Final

Dubai: Australia have secured their spot in their first ICC World Test Championship Final following their resounding 9-wicket win in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as tickets for the showpiece go on general sale on Friday.

Fans can access ICC World Test Championship Final tickets here with tickets going on general sale from 12h00 UK time. Earlier in February, a priority ballot for registered fans including the ICC Family heralded an overwhelming response for a seat at the historic venue for the Ultimate Test, highlighting the continued appeal of Test cricket, and the building excitement ahead of the week-long celebration of the longest format.

Currently the top-ranked side, Australia have not lost a series during the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 and will face India or Sri Lanka in the Ultimate Test at the Oval in London from June 7 to 11.

In Indore, the tourists who were led by Steve Smith due to regular captain Pat Cummins’ unavailability dominated the Test from the start with spinners Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann spearheading the victory by sharing a staggering 17 out of the 20 Indian wickets to fall in the match. Player of the Match Lyon was in inspired form, taking 11 wickets over the course of the tie, while Kuhnemann captured six.

Australia need to win the final Test in Ahmedabad to maintain their unbeaten run, currently trailing India 2-1 in the four-match Border-Gavaskar series. In the 2021-23 cycle, Australia defeated England 4-0 at home, Pakistan 1-0 away, drew 1-1 in Sri Lanka, and beat both the West Indies and South Africa 2-0 at home before their ongoing India tour.

Thanks to their supreme run of results in the longest format, the win in Indore ensures they will end the cycle at the summit of the World Test Championship standings, moving to 69 percentage points with only the Ahmedabad Test still to play.

India and Sri Lanka are the two contenders for the remaining finalist’s slot. A win in Ahmedabad will earn the Rohit Sharma-led side a trip to London for their second successive ICC World Test Championship Final.

For Sri Lanka to qualify, they need to clean sweep New Zealand 2-0 in the away series beginning in Christchurch on March 9 and hope for India’s defeat or a draw in Ahmedabad.

Current Australian captain Steve Smith said, “It’s incredibly rewarding to qualify for our first ICC World Test Championship Final. It has been a goal of ours for quite a while now.

“The players and staff deserve a lot of credit for the standard of cricket we have played over the past two years. It would be a great reward for everyone to finish as World Test Champions.

“To also be able to play the WTC final ahead of the Ashes means it will be a great opportunity for our fans to lengthen their stays to come and watch us at The Oval. We still have one Test to play here in India where we hope to maintain this momentum.”

ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley said, “We are really excited to launch the general tickets sales for the ICC World Test Championship Final which will determine the new ICC World Test Champions. The Oval is a wonderful and historic Test venue and will provide the ideal backdrop for the Ultimate Test.

“Congratulations to Australia for securing their place in their first World Test Championship Final and we eagerly wait to see whether India or Sri Lanka will join them. This will be the first ever neutral Test at the venue and we’re expecting a full house as the teams go all out for the ultimate prize in cricket’s most historic format.”

CEO Surrey CCC, Steve Elworthy added, “The ICC World Test Championship Final will be a fantastic occasion for The Oval and will be the first neutral Test in the venue’s over 175-year history. We are delighted to see Australia confirmed as the first finalists and can’t wait to see who they will face.

“With the coveted World Test Championship Mace at stake, the two finalists will undoubtedly give it their best shot. We will welcome the fans in the true Oval spirit and ensure that they have a memorable time in what should be an epic finale to the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23.”(UNI)

Remaining ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 fixtures:

South Africa v West Indies (Second Test) – Johannesburg, South Africa, March 8-12

New Zealand v Sri Lanka (First Test) – Christchurch, New Zealand, March 9-13

India v Australia (Fourth Test) – Ahmedabad, India, March 9-13

New Zealand v Sri Lanka (Second Test) – Wellington, New Zealand, March 17-21.