WTC Final 2023

Ajinkya Rahane was struck on the index finger of his right hand off a Pat Cummins bouncer while batting on Day Two of the marquee clash. He immediately felt pain and the physio rushed on the field immediately for treating the injured finger, which Rahane had previously fractured in his playing career.

Rahane ended a 17-month exile when he was recalled to India's XI for the one-off Test at The Oval on the back of an impressive domestic season and an excellent Indian Premier League campaign with the Chennai Super Kings that netted 326 runs. He was perhaps also fortuitous that injuries to fellow batters KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer during the lead-up ensured he was an automatic choice.

Warner had come into the ongoing World Test Championship Final against India on the back of a lean run in the format. At The Oval, Warner looked solid before falling for 43 in the first innings, before being out for just one in the second innings. "I think he's done enough (for Ashes playing eleven selection).

But the ICC Hall of Famer also said that England should be wary of the pitfalls that could come from preparing conditions to suit their ultra-attacking batting philosophy, reports ICC. Ponting, who was speaking during the ICC World Test Championship Final at The Oval on Friday, believes England's bowlers could come a cropper if the boundaries are brought in and pitches are prepared to the "fast and flat" specification that Stokes mentioned earlier in the English summer.

Labuschagne decided to sit back and take a nap as teammates David Warner and Usman Khawaja looked to build on Australia's lead, though the No.3 batter was rudely awoken and called out to the middle when Mohammed Siraj struck, reports ICC.

It was an interesting day where India made a spirited fight back, thanks to a splendid 109-run partnership between Ajinkya Rahane (89) and Shardul Thakur (51) helping the side avoid follow-on. But Australia are still in a strong position as they bowled out India for 296 in the first innings, gaining a vital 173-run lead.

Ajinkya Rahane, who played his last Test against South Africa at Cape Town in January 2022, struck a half-century to rescue India from a precarious 151/5 at the end of the second day's play in the World Test Championship Final against Australia at The Oval here.

At 152/6, the fear of India being bowled out quickly and being made to follow-on loomed large. But Ajinkya Rahane, who looked solid on day two and Shardul Thakur shared a superb 109-run partnership off 145 balls for the seventh wicket to lead a superb fightback for India and avoid the ignominy of follow-on.

When K.S Bharat was clean bowled up by Australia's Scott Boland in the first over of the morning session as India resumed on 151/5, the fear of being bowled out quickly loomed large. But Rahane and Thakur fought hard to capitalize on Australia's inconsistent bowling.

At 152/6 in the first over of the day, the fear of India being bowled out quickly and being made to follow-on loomed large. But Ajinkya Rahane, who looked solid on day two and a fighting Shardul Thakur shared a superb 109-run partnership off 145 balls for the seventh wicket to lead a superb fightback for India and avoid the ignominy of follow-on.