Written by Vaibhav Tripathi
Sachin Tendulkar, the highest run-scorer in Test history, expects both recent history and the conditions at The Oval to favour India, when they take on Australia in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC). At the same time, he pointed out Australia’s competitiveness and the impact that Cameron Green, their exciting young all-rounder, could have on proceedings.
“The Indian team will be happy that they are playing at The Oval,” he told 100mbsports. “The nature of the Oval pitch is such that it assists the spinners as the match goes on. So, spinners will come into play a little bit.
“It need not be always a turning track as sometimes the spinners rely a lot on the bounce, sometimes that little bit of zip that they get off the pitch. Also, the overhead conditions and it depends a lot on the shiny side of the ball. If they are able to get that drift, they can make the ball talk in the air without the pitch coming into play. So, the Oval is going to be a good venue for India.”
India enjoyed a convincing 157-run victory at The Oval in 2021, despite conceding a 99-run lead on first innings. Tendulkar was certain that most of the players would tap into their memories of that game before they take the field against Australia.
“100 percent,” he said. “Whenever you have such memories, they will stay with you. The Indian team would not have forgotten that the last time they played there, they had a superb outing. They won the game, and as I said, good memories stay long with you.”
Tendulkar made 11 of his 51 Test centuries against Australia, more than against any other side, and he wasn’t about to take the present-day side lightly, despite India having enjoyed the better of their recent contests. “Bruises take some time to heal,” he said. “But Australia is a beautiful team as they have a balanced squad.
“There are guys who have been around for a long time now, and some young faces as well. It is a nice blend of youth and experience. Australia have always been competitive, and whether they have a full squad or not, once they cross that rope, they are going to be very competitive.”
Among the Indians, only Cheteshwar Pujara has enjoyed any time in the middle during the current English season, as he captained Sussex in Division Two of the County Championship. The rest of the 15-man squad arrived in the UK on the back of a two-month-long IPL season. Green and David Warner were IPL regulars, while most of their squad prepared for this Test and the upcoming Ashes series at home. The exceptions were Marnus Labuschagne, who had a fruitful stint with Glamorgan, and Steve Smith, who played briefly alongside Pujara at Sussex.
“Of course, playing in County cricket can be of great value,” said Tendulkar, who spent a season with Yorkshire in 1992. Both Pujara and Labuschagne had considerable outings in County cricket recently. Smith not as much as the other two, but whatever match practice one can get is very handy because the conditions are different. Our guys have played T20 and now they have gone to England. Some players from Australia were also playing T20 here, but I believe playing practice matches … there’s no better practice than that.”