With the conclusion of the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League, all the focus has now shifted to the upcoming World Test Championship Final(WTC Final) between India and Australia, which is scheduled to take place from June 7th at ‘The Oval’ in London.
A host of start from India and Australia will be seen in action when the two cricketing giants will lock horns in the second edition of the ICC WTC final. While Australia will be making its debut appearance in the WTC Final, on the other hand, this is for the second consecutive time that India is going to play the final clash.
Ahead of the much-awaited ICC World Test Championship final (ICC WTC Final) between India and Australia, former England skipper Nasser Hussain has named his combined Test XI featuring both Indian and Australian players.
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Hussain has raised a number of eyebrows while picking his combined XI for WTC Final 2023. He has ignored a couple of big names from his team and has picked up just one spinner. He has also not included the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Nathan Lyon while only picking Ravichandran Ashwin as the specialist spinner.
No Place For Ravindra Jadeja In Hussain’s Combined Test XI For WTC Final
Speaking about Jadeja, the former England batter said that he snubbed the India allrounder because of English conditions. He said:
“If the World Test Championship Final was in the subcontinent or India, I might go Jadeja at six. But I’m not, because it’s in England,” Hussain told The ICC Review.
He added: “I’m going to go for a bowling all-rounder, seam-bowler in Cameron Green. That’s who I want as my all-rounder. My spin bowler would be Ravi Ashwin at eight. And he bats, obviously, very good at No.8.”
Talking about the rest of the team, Hussain started by picking Rohit Sharma and Usman Khawaja as his openers. He then named Australia’s duo of Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and former India skipper Virat Kohli. He said:
“India is still trying to work out which one they’re going to play, so I’m going to go with Alex Carey as my keeper at seven.”
Further, Hussain revealed his pace bowling line-up. He started by picking Australia skipper Pat Cummins before going for Mitchell Starc. He also named Mohammed Shami and mentioned Jasprit Bumrah, who is currently sidelined with an injury.
“(Pat) Cummins at nine, easy choice. (Mitchell) Starc at 10 to give me that left-arm variation,”
He added: “Mohammed Shami, just so that we can have so many replays of his seam position going down. I would have obviously Jasprit in there if he wasn’t injured, but he is so I’m having Shami at 11,”
Nasser Hussain’s combined India-Australia Test XI:
Rohit Sharma (c), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Mohammad Shami
