NEW DELHI: Experienced speedster Mohammed Shami on Saturday said that the pitch being used for the
World Test Championship final against Australia was not fully ready for a game of that magnitude. Shami is the second India player to come down hard at the Oval track. India all-rounder Shardul Thakur had called The Oval pitch underprepared.
“In Test matches, pitches tend to get slower as the game goes on. But I don’t think this pitch was fully prepared for World Test Championship final. It was not fully ready but day by day it does change in a Test match,” said Shami after stumps on day four.
India were 164 for three chasing a record 444 with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane in the middle.
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WTC Final: Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane hold firm against Australia
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<p>Virat Kohli defied Australia on Day 4 to give India hope of an extraordinary win in what could be a grandstand finish to the World Test Championship final at The Oval. </p>
<p>India were 164/3 at stumps, still needing a further 280 runs to reach what would be a record-breaking total of 444 on the fifth and final day. </p>
<p>Kohli was 44 not out, while Ajinkya Rahane was unbeaten on 20 after he had already marked his first Test in over a year by top-scoring with 89 in India’s first-innings 296. </p>
<p>India have won their last four series against Australia but a victory in south London might just surpass even those wins. </p>
<p>The scale of India’s task was emphasised by the fact that only four teams in 146 years of Test cricket have made more than 400 to win in the fourth innings. </p>
<p>Australia need 7 more wickets to win the only major global men’s trophy to have so far eluded them and ensure they head into next week’s Ashes against England in buoyant mood. </p>
<p>India captain Rohit Sharma set the initial tone for a daunting chase with several boundaries, including a pulled six off Mitchell Starc. </p>
<p>But on the stroke of tea, Shubman Gill fell to a controversial catch when Cameron Green dived low to his left following an edge off Scott Boland. </p>
<p>Spin proved Rohit’s undoing on a wearing pitch when he missed an attempted sweep against Nathan Lyon, bowling from around the wicket, falling LBW for 43. </p>
<p>India lost another wicket without adding another run when Cheteshwar Pujara attempted an extravagant upper-cut off Pat Cummins on 27 only to guide a simple catch to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. </p>
Shami thinks his team has a good chance of creating history on Sunday.
“Test matches should be decided on day five and in the last session. That is what called a proper Test. In the last four years, we have played well against Australia. Both have fought hard. We will have to bat well tomorrow.”
India won a back to back series in Australia in 2021 after staging remarkable comebacks in Sydney and Brisbane.
Asked if India will take confidence from those memorable games, he said:”We believe we can win the match. We have performed well overseas not just in England. We will come together to win this. 280 runs if you bat well it is gettable.”
Rahane did not take the field in second innings after being hit while batting on Friday. But Shami said he is fully fit to bat.
“He is batting well. In sports, you get hurt but you keep playing.”
Shami too is prepared to make a lower-order contribution if the need arises.
(With inputs from PTI)
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