WTC Final: Not picking R Ashwin was purely based on conditions, says bowling coach Paras Mhambrey | Cricket News – Times of India

<p>Travis Head’s dashing century was the centrepiece of an Australia fightback against India on the opening day of the World Test Championship final at The Oval on Wednesday. </p>

<p>Australia were in a commanding position on 327/3 at stumps after losing the toss, with Head 146 not out and Steve Smith 95 not out. </p>

<p>India started strongly when Mohammed Siraj removed Usman Khawaja for a duck with an excellent wobble-seam delivery and Australia were 2/1. </p>

<p>David Warner’s promising innings ended on 43 when a gloved pull off Shardul Thakur was well caught down the legside by diving wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat.</p>

<p>Marnus Labuschagne fell early in the second session for his lunch score of 26 when he was bowled between bat and pad by a Mohammed Shami inswinger.</p>

<p>Head and Smith then came together with Australia in trouble at 76/3 in bowler-friendly conditions, but as the sun burst through the clouds, the runs started to flow.</p>

<p>Head was troubled by Ravindra Jadeja but by counter-attacking from the start of his innings — 24 of his first 27 runs came in boundaries — he put the pressure back on the bowlers.</p>

<p>With Smith, who before this match averaged nearly 98 in Tests at The Oval, batting in more conventional fashion it gave Head freedom to keep playing his shots. </p>

<p>By the time India tested Head with the short ball, he was well set and a pulled single off Mohammed Shami took him to a sixth Test hundred in just 106 balls, including 14 fours and a six. </p>

<p>Smith brought up the pair’s 250 stand off the last ball of the day when he guided Mohammed Shami through the covers for a sweetly timed four. </p>

<p>There was no place for off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in India’s seam-heavy attack in the World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval. </p>

<p>But as Travis Head and Steve Smith put Australia on top on Day 1, India may rue the decision to leave out the No. 1-ranked Test bowler. </p>

<p>India skipper Rohit Sharma tried to justify the call with well-grassed pitch which was a bit dry underneath and some grey skies at least to start with. </p>

<p>Ashwin, India’s most successful bowler in the 2021-23 WTC cycle, with 61 scalps from 13 Tests, missed his sixth Test in England in a row. </p>

<p>India’s team combination had become as big a talking point as the pitch for the contest much before the game. </p>

<p>India had erred in the last WTC final in Southampton vs New Zealand in 2021 by picking two spinners in damp conditions. </p>

<p>A 4-1 combination outside the subcontinent, with Ravindra Jadeja being preferred as the sole spinner because of his improved batting, has worked for India. </p>

<p>But as Smith and Head repelled India, Rohit might have wondered about the wisdom of leaving out Ashwin, who could have been a threat against an Australia top five featuring three left-handers. </p>

<p>Ashwin may have made peace with the fact that potentially his last chance for another duel with an adversary that has defined his career is gone. </p>

<p>India’s next Test engagement vs Australia won’t happen till December 2024, and one wonders whether Ashwin will be around by then. </p>