Post the final of the World Test Championship 2023.  In truth, the official postmortem results are not yet available.  However, there is no shortage of unofficial reports.  First up, was it a catch or not a catch?    

Shubman Gill, not willing to accept reality, gave his version of the DRS review.  Gill’s vision differed from the official verdict, and for his short sightedness, clearly visible on social media.  He was fined the entire amount of his match fee.  It appears that Gill did not believe that his supporters and fans on social media saw what the rest of us saw.

Although the DRS reviewer had the benefit of numerous camera angles and closeup shots, team captain Sharma and a few others added their 20/20 vision that the DRS umpires should have seen more of the catch.  It is odd that you campaign for a DRS system because you don’t trust the vision of the on-field umpires.  Then you raise doubt about the system that worked well when a decision is in your favor, but demand justice when the decision is not in your favor.

India was defeated in two successive WTC finals, and that has been embarrassing and evokes questions, supposition, and what ifs?  The cry is that Australia had plenty of time to rest, recuperate and prepare.  And team India? Well, the entire Indian Team Players had only 20 days to prepare, says Shastri, Rohit and Kohli.  And the reason for the preparation time available was due to IPL players being involved in the IPL play-offs and final matches.  Who is responsible for this, The BCCI? The IPL? Cricket Australia? Or The ICC?  Ravi, Rohit, and Virat, please tell us when you have the answer.   

Actually, notwithstanding his previous comments, Rohit appears to know exactly why team India was humiliated.  Indian batters did not lack concentration, they simply wanted to bat in a different way, he is reported to have said.  NO, no, that is not the answer he corrected himself, we lost because the World Test Championship Final was played in June.  We must schedule the final for March.  Better still, we must play the final in another venue away from England.  And for good measures, make the final best of three.

If the answer to losing or (winning) was so obviously known to so many, including Rohit.  Why did team India lose? I will wait for the official postmortem results.

The World Test Cricket Championship 2023 final has been decided.  Australia takes the title of Champions, the crown, and the rewards.  Congratulations to the Aussies and commiseration to the losing Indian Team.

Sometime, maybe a year from today, when the dust settles, we can see the full picture.  The postmortem for this 2023 Test match final, the examiner might give us the results of his yearlong review of the playing facts. Questions, what did happen, why did it happen, who is to blame and can this cricket tragedy, for such it must be seen through Indian eyes.  Could this have been avoided?

The Australian eyes will see the 2023 test final through tears of joy and happiness as they recall the last two test match series when the Indian team creamed and pulverized the Australians, leaving their undergarments exposed.  Yes! Revenge is sweet, and in this 2023 final, very sweet for the Australians whose prize was twice as nice because it was rivals team India on the losing side.

What happened? We are aware of the idiom that hindsight is 20/20.  Indian Captain, Rohit Sharma and his team of advisers must be regretting the decision to invite Australia to bat first.  It is conceivable that with no pressure nor anxiety, India’s batters may have produced, and their bowlers turn the table on Australia.

Why did this happen? Arguably, there are those in the camp who would say that this match is indicative and suggestive that test cricket is alive.  That it is well, and it is growing.  But is the reverse true? Is the popularity of the white ball cricket echoing the demise of the red ball version.  The casual observer would have noted that team India’s batters appeared to be more prone to the cricket shot selections that is a staple in the white ball version of the T20 format.  Those shot selection choices did not work well for the Indian batters in this final.

Who is to blame?  Well, I have deliberated, but in truth, one man cannot deliver.  So, I am waiting with patience for the jury panel to deliver a verdict. 

Could this tragedy (for India) be avoided? The simple answer is yes, it could be avoided. But don’t ask me to tell you how.  Cheers, felicitations, well done and well played to Australia.  Commiserations to team India, thank you for at least showing up.

On the Morning of day 4, Spectators and fans had no idea what excitement was on the card for this day’s play.  There was a pattern that had been observed, and this was totally unpredictable.  The overnight not out batters for Australia’s first innings (Smith and Head), and second innings Labuschagne and Green, were dismissed early without significant addition to their individual overnight score.  Similarly, India’s first innings batters, Rhane added sixty runs, but his partner Bharat did not add to his overnight score.

So, the pattern appears set, and it is quite likely, maybe predictable, that Kohli (44runs) and Rahane (20 runs) will fail to add to their overnight scores, if history does repeat itself.  History aside, Australia resumed their second innings today, on123 for 4 wickets.  This was a good morning for the Indian Bowlers Yadav (2 wickets), Jadeja (3 wickets) and Shami (2wickets).  They were economical, precise and they mesmerized the Australian Middle order batters.  Except for Starc (41) and Carey (66) who held steady and produced an encouraging 93 run partnership to save Australia from embarrassment.  Australia declared their innings closed at 270 for 8 wickets.  The target for India is 444 runs.

In yesterday’s post, we estimated that India can restrict Australia to 400 or less by lunch time on day 4.  This could be a winning score for India.  India’s target run chase has begun, and there is clear sign that the run chase is on.  Sharma and Gill at over number 7, were scoring at 5.8 runs per over, before Gill was out to another spectacular catch by Green in the slips.  Diving forward, Green appeared to have caught the ball cleanly, but to the spectators’ eyes, the ball looked as if it scraped on the ground before Green had control of it. 

The DRS review ruled the catch clean, and Gill was out (18).  Sharma and Pujara continued to keep up with the run rate.  But, unfortunately, a bad shot selection, reminiscent of a T20 stroke, caused the downfall of Captain Sharma, a missed cross batted sweep and he was out LBW (43).  Five balls and one run later, Pujara emulated Captain Sharma with his version of trying to help an over the head rising delivery.  He failed and he was easily caught by the wicketkeeper (27).

At close of play, day 4, India with Virat Kohli (44 not out) and Rahane (20 not out), were the Overnight batters.  Statistically, Australia has bowled 40 overs in this afternoon session, and this leads me to the question of the evening.  If Australia can bowl 70 to 80 overs on day 5, Can India score at 3.5 to 4.0 runs per over to collect the US $1.6 million prize.

Should India fail the challenge, the second-place prize is nothing to sniff at, US $800,000 should wipe away the tears.

At the end of the fourth day’s play of the ICC Test Championship, billed ”The Ultimate Test’, India was 164-3. They need a further 280 runs on the final day, for them to be crowned 2nd ICC Cricket Test Champions, Likewise Australia must capture an additional 6 wickets to win US $1.6 million and the winner’s Trophy.  After 4 days the contest has lived up to expectations, the spectators are thrilled with the standard of play on both sides. At the wicket are two players who have each scored over 5000 test runs and have big tons on their way to achieve these landmarks. 

Earlier today Australia declared after losing the wickets of Cameron Green for 25, Starc for 41 and Cummins for 5, with the total on 270/8. Setting India 444 for victory. India lost Gill when he was controversially given out caught by Green, the DRS review TV Umpires with the help of the TV Cameras ruled the catch clean. To the naked eyes it appears as if Green had grassed the catch low down to his left. They thought otherwise.  Obviously, some of the spectators were unhappy. The fifth day promises to be another thriller. Earlier I wrote that Australia has the edge.  but don’t count out India. Let us await the outcome.

At the close of play on Day 2 of ICC 2023 Test Championship, Australia who were dismissed for 469 during afternoon session, Is once again in the driving seat. Travis Head scored 163, his fourth 150 plus score  in test cricket. Smith scored his 31st century, he was dismissed for 121 runs.  Siraj 4-108, with Thakur and Shami 2 wickets each.

India in their first innings reply is struggling due to early setbacks. India’s early batters faced a fiery Australian attack.  The pace was quick, the line was precise and accurate, with plenty of movement off the wicket.  And the bounce inflicted pain at times.  This was, indeed, a clear signal to England of what is to come, and very likely to cause a lot of concerns for England when they face off in the Ashes series at home this summer.   Jadeja has top scored so far with 48 he edged a Lyon delivery that was easily taken by Steve Smith in the slips.

Earlier Shubman Gill offered no shot to a Scott Boland delivery only to see his middle and off stumps disturbed. He scored only 13, and Cheteshwar Pujara experienced a similar fate, on 14, he also offered no shot to a Cameron Green delivery which rattled his stumps. Rahane had a reprieve, when his LBW out decision was reversed due to a no ball call against the bowler, he has scored 29 not out at close of play.  Bharat, the other not out batter has scored 5 runs. 

Australia is on top for now, however, I am mindful that the unexpected can and do happen.  So, it would be unwise to count India out at this time. India is trailing by 318 runs, and the possibility of the follow on looms large. The question for today is, Can India avoid the follow-on? 

Dennis (for L. Francis)