There are just a little more than 20 days until the second World Test Championship final between Australia and India, which will be held at The Oval from June 7–11.
Final WTC 2023: The Second World Test Championship final between India and Australia, which will take place at The Oval from June 7–11, is less than 20 days away. Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting thinks the conditions in England will give Pat Cummins & Co. a slight advantage over Rohit Sharma & Co.

Sean Abbott, Michael Neser, and Marnus Labuschagne, two of Australia's top-order batsmen, have all been participating in county cricket. Australia has a slightly greater total test win % at The Oval than India does, with 18.42 compared to 14.28.

"If you were to look at it solely from the standpoint of the conditions, you would think that the conditions in England should suit Australia a bit more, as the English conditions are unquestionably more similar to Australia than what they are in India, especially on what we've seen recently in Australia."

"I've actually played Test cricket here and in India. We have observed the pitches that they have played on, which have historically featured particularly spin-friendly pitches and unfavorable playing conditions. But I think Australia's comeback in the previous two Test matches was absolutely admirable," stated Ponting on Friday at the official WTC Final curtain-raiser event.

Ponting additionally asserted that the coveted match for a sparkling mace may be played using a crimson kookaburra ball. The Dukes ball, which has consistently been used for Tests in England, was interestingly used for the first World Test Championship Final at Southampton in 2021, where New Zealand defeated India to win.

There is a neutral location, as well as the choice of ball, which has been in the headlines recently. The Dukes of Kookaburra Balls, who will win? It appears that both teams have agreed that the kookaburra ball will be used. despite the fact that you are unsure about the Kookaburra ball's future performance.

"You're used to seeing the duke's ball and what it does every time you visit England. So it also has those little components. But only when you consider the circumstances would you have to conclude that Australia has a little advantage.

Ponting believes it shouldn't have an impact on India's preparations for the eagerly anticipated WTC final, which will take place in England ten days after the IPL 2023 concludes on May 28.

"There are two perspectives on the matter. Is it preferable for someone like Virat (Kohli) to play and score runs consistently and have confidence before a game? The Australian bowlers haven't played a lot of cricket at home. As a result, they will be very well-prepared because they have experience running.

"Pat Cummins won't be as skilled as Mohammed Shami because the latter hasn't played any cricket in a while. Much of it depends on the individual. Indian IPL players won't be considering it because they will be focused on workload management techniques to make sure they are healthy enough to bowl in a Test match in a few weeks.

"Another intriguing aspect of that is that not every one of those players will participate in the IPL championship game on May 28. Two and a half weeks will be given to some of the absent players for recuperation and preparation. To give themselves the best chance, Australian stars Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are in England getting acclimated to the weather.

"Michael Neser and Sean Abbott are also included in the expanded Australian squad, meaning they are participating and bowling in case any of the fast bowlers get hurt. I, therefore, don't see any benefit in either situation. But I'm confident that Virat would respond that scoring runs right now is what he'd prefer to be doing if you asked him. The fast bowlers would likely respond that they would prefer to take a few weeks off if you asked them. It functions both ways," he clarified.

After ending his coaching duties with Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2023, Ponting, who will be commentating on the forthcoming WTC final, thinks the matchup between India's top order and Australia's pace attack could be a crucial factor in selecting the victor of the final at The Oval from June 7-11.

I believe India's top order will face Australia's quick bowlers. This is an idea that makes your mouth wet. Typically, we picture the pitched confrontations between Australia's hitters and India's spinners. Will The Oval's wicket, though, disprove that?

The pitches I've played on at The Oval typically start out as excellent batting surfaces and end up giving a little bit to spinners as the game progresses. To have a really good contest on day four, day five, or perhaps day six, depending on how it's going, is what I'd like to see on this wicket. As the game progresses, we shall witness the conflict between Australia's middle order and Indian spinners.