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Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
How arch-rivals India found a way to sabotage Australia's bid for back-to-back World Test Championship titles - despite bombing out of the final at Lords
India may not be playing in the World Test Championship final this week, but their presence is still being felt - and not in a way Australia appreciates. In a bizarre twist just days out from Wednesday's final, Australia were booted from their planned training session at Lord's, only to discover India had been granted access to the hallowed ground instead. Despite being eliminated from the WTC race back in January, India managed to muscle their way into the iconic venue on Saturday, leaving Australian players scrambling for alternative facilities. Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green were forced into a three-hour round trip to Beckenham in South London to train, believing Lord's was unavailable. But when the Australian squad arrived at Lord's on Sunday, they learned that India had trained there the day before. The move stunned many in the cricket world and raised fresh questions about the influence India wields over the global game. India's Test team won't play at Lord's until July 10, yet they were allowed a full session at the venue while Australia – the defending WTC champions – were locked out. It's a fresh layer of drama in a storied rivalry that has produced iconic moments, unforgettable series, and plenty of controversy. From Steve Waugh's 'final frontier' tour in 2001 to the Monkeygate scandal of 2008, India vs Australia has never been short on tension. The rivalry reached new heights during India's heroic 2–1 comeback in Australia in 2020-21, capped by a stunning win at the Gabba. But this week, the drama has spilled off the pitch and into the politics of cricket itself. As Australia quietly went about preparations in Beckenham, the optics at Lord's spoke volumes. Inside the ground, cricket's top officials gathered for a major summit to discuss the game's direction. Outside the window, India were in full training – despite not even being part of the WTC decider. The message was clear: India runs the show. Australian all-rounder Beau Webster, experiencing Lord's for the first time, said just being at the ground was special. 'I've been here to watch games before,' Webster said. 'But to be out in the middle? It's extra special.' Webster is hoping for a debut in the WTC final and believes he can contribute as a fifth bowling option. 'If they go that way, I'll give it my best,' he said. Hazlewood, meanwhile, sent a strong message to selectors with a 12-over effort followed by another five later in the session. The selectors are yet to confirm the final XI, but Hazlewood is expected to edge out Scott Boland for the final bowling spot. Marnus Labuschagne is also tipped to retain his place ahead of young Sam Konstas. Pat Cummins enters the final feeling fresh and ready after fixing an ankle issue and enjoying paternity leave earlier this year. 'Physically I feel as good as I have in years,' Cummins said. The Aussie skipper led his side to WTC glory in 2023 against India at The Oval and is now gunning for back-to-back titles. He's also defending the relevance of the WTC, calling it 'awesome' and a rare opportunity to win tangible silverware for sustained excellence. 'It gives relevance to some two-match series that otherwise get lost in the calendar,' he said. The Lord's final will be the third straight WTC decider held in England – but the first at the home of cricket. Cummins floated the idea of the previous winner hosting the next final, though he admits Lord's 'is a pretty good place.'
France 24
20 hours ago
- Sport
- France 24
Australia's Webster looks to cap memorable 2025 with WTC final appearance
Webster only won the first of his three Test caps in January and was in the side when Australia played their most recent red-ball international, against Sri Lanka in February. The 31-year-old all-rounder would relish the opportunity to play for the World Test champions on the hallowed turf at Lord's. "It's pretty special. I've been here a couple of times to watch a few games throughout the years, but to be out in the middle, yeah, extra special," he told reporters at Lord's on Sunday. "If I get the nod, I'm looking forward to Wednesday." Webster, averaging exactly 50 with the bat in Test cricket and a lively medium-pacer, provides Australia with a valuable all-rounder option at a time when Cameron Green is prevented from bowling by a back injury. The inclusion of Webster would ease the burden on Australia's main pace bowlers and senior spinner Nathan Lyon, with fast bowler Josh Hazlewood saying: "I remember back to when we didn't have one (an all-rounder) and it was brutal. "It was tough work. It just sort of snowballs if you don't have that all-rounder and you're just continually bowling." Webster added: "When you go into a game and you've got three front-line quicks and a spinner, it's always nice to have a guy who can potentially get you a wicket or two, keep the big boys fresh for another spell or the second innings. "That's my role in the team and if they (Australia's selectors) decide to go that way, I'll give my best," said the Tasmanian, who has taken three Test wickets. Webster heads into the final with recent experience of English conditions -- and the Dukes ball that will be used in the showpiece -- after a stint at county side Warwickshire. "It's always nice to get over here and get amongst the Dukes ball," he said. "Obviously, it reacts differently here with the swing and the bounce, so to have four games at Warwickshire... I think it's the best prep I could have given myself going into this Test." While swing can be a relatively short-lived phenomenon in Australian conditions, Webster believes it is a useful weapon in England. "Over here, you're sort of always up against the swinging ball," he said. "One reason why I keep coming over here is to try and get better in these conditions." But while Webster is grateful for his time with Warwickshire, his new wife has not been quite so impressed by the weather on her 'honeymoon'. "She probably would have rather somewhere a bit more sunny than Birmingham," said Webster. "But I'm sure we'll get away at some point in the next few months after the cricket's done and take time to celebrate then." © 2025 AFP
Int'l Cricket Council
2 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Proud Webster eager to earn Lord's nod for WTC25 Final
The return of fellow all-rounder Cameron Green from back surgery means Webster has some competition on to retain his place in the Australian line-up, but the fact that Green will only play at Lord's as a batter means there may still be room for the confident 31-year-old. Webster is determined to make sure he stays at the forefront of selectors' minds and hoping it will help him get the chance to showcase his skills against South Africa at Lord's in the Ultimate Test. "I'd be hugely proud to represent the country in such a big game," Webster told ICC Digital. "The boys look forward to this fixture and the two-year cycles means there is a lot of cricket to get to this point and being a part of that I'm really proud of. "I'll be doing everything I can to try and play and show everyone what I can do."
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ricky Ponting questions move for WTC final as Sam Konstas and Scott Boland cop blow
Aussie cricket legend Ricky Ponting feels Sam Konstas and Scott Boland will miss out on selection for the World Test Championship final despite not necessarily agreeing with Marnus Labuschagne's potential promotion up the order. Cameron Green is set to make an immediate return to the Aussie X to take on South Africa at Lord's on 11 June after returning from a back injury. Despite missing the test series against India over the summer, Green has returned in strong form during a second-division County cricket stint. The allrounder has blasted a number of centuries and is likely to slot back into the starting XI. However, Green's return is going to force someone out. And despite plenty of calls for it to be Labuschagne, who is on an extended lean run of form, Ponting believes the unfortunate player could be Konstas. Labushagne has struggled for runs across the last 18 months having failed with the bat against India and Sri Lanka last summer. The No.3 batter averaged just 25.36 across the two series and has so far failed in his County cricket move. The former World No.1 Test batter is woefully out of form, but there are suggestions the selectors will keep him in the side and move him up to opener to accomodate the return of Green. And despite questioning the move, Ponting feels the Aussie team will do just that. "I actually think that that will go with Labuschagne," Ponting said on the ICC Review podcast. "Looking back to the last World Test Championship Final there was some talk about David Warner and whether he should hold his spot going into that. "And there was a bit of talk around the team about wanting to get through that period or that phase or if you like, with the same group of players and give them the chance to, to be able to play off in that one-off final. Labuschagne has been through this cycle with the team, albeit batting at No.3 and I think they will want to get through the cycle with the same players so I think Labuschagne will get the nod. "Whether I agree with it or not, it's a different will be revealed in the next couple of weeks." Ponting believes Green will slot in at No.3, while Smith will remain at No.4. This will see Konstas miss out after making his exciting debut during the series against India. Ponting also weighed-in on the exclusion of Boland. Boland took over Josh Hazlewood's position during the India series and starred at the MCG and SCG to help Australia surge to victory. Hazlewood failed to play the final two tests due to a back injury, but has returned to the IPL in sensational form. The Aussie quick has been the best bowler of the T20 tournament and he was also arguably the best of the Australian quartet across the last 18 months, before his injury. Hazlewood missed his side's last three games due to a shoulder issue, but the quick stamped his Test claims with a superb spell of bowling against Ponting's Punjab Kings to brush off any injury concerns. And while it will be hard on Boland, Ponting feels the selectors will remain faithful to Hazlewood for the one-off test with South Africa. "And the one that everyone talks about the last couple of years is the whole Hazlewood (versus) Boland one," Ponting added. "It's a really tough selection every time because every time Boland plays, he just does so well. But unfortunately, if Hazlewood is fit, I think Hazlewood comes straight back into the team." Australia's Test No.3 has faced growing calls to be axed for next month's showpiece red-ball final against South Africa at Lord's with his form dropping off a cliff. Labuschagne only averaged 25.36 with the bat across the summer, after disappointing Test series against India and Sri Lanka. That came after an equally underwhelming previous year for Labuschagne, where he averaged just 27.08 across the summer of 2023/24. And the 30-year-old only managed scores of 23, 0 and 61 in his three Sheffield Shield innings for Queensland after those Test series.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Muddled mess': Key factor in Marnus' fate
Australian coach Andrew McDonald says a decision on playing an all-rounder in the World Test Championship final will determine if one of Sam Konstas or Marnus Labuschagne misses out as selectors weigh up doing something 'we've never done before' at Lord's and promote Labuschagne to opener. McDonald was adamant the 'muddled mess' leading into the game, including players fleeing India after the IPL was delayed by a fleeting military incident, won't impede preparations for the clash with South Africa. About to fly to the team camp in the UK at an 'undisclosed location', McDonald said selectors had a preferred starting XI mapped out but with 'multiple names in different positions'. He said Labuschagne opening with Usman Khawaja 'had been discussed' amid concern making such a major move in a big game could 'unsettle the team'. But McDonald also flagged that resurgent Cameron Green, coming off three county cricket centuries, could also bat at the top of the order, with final decisions to be made as close to three days before the June 11 start. 'He could bat anywhere,' McDonald said of Green, not hiding his excitement at the boom batter's brilliant return from career-saving back surgery. 'He could be three, he could be five, he could be six, he could open. 'I think he's got the temperament, the skillset, the defensive play as well. The higher up you go defensive skills are a priority, and he's got all bases covered. He plays the short ball well. 'You're not going to get a negative word from the coach about Cameron Green.' McDonald said bedding down an opening combination to take the team forward was a priority after 'moving parts' through the series against India and then Sri Lanka 'weren't ideal'. Konstas lost his spot in Sri Lanka, and could yet keep Labuschagne, who made 27 runs in three middling county cricket innings for Glamorgan, out of the side, pending the need to pick all-rounder Beau Webster to boost the bowling stocks at Lord's with Green still unable to bowl. McDonald said Konstas, who was part of the team camp in Brisbane, had made some technical changes after a poor end to the domestic season, adamant his 'journey' would end with him being a much better player. 'There's an 11 on a board but it has dashes with multiple names in different positions,' McDonald said on SEN. 'As we put the squad together the first part is to have a 15, to give yourself all options. 'Do we need to play the all-rounder That will then shuffle batting positions. We are quite flexible in our approach to that. 'It will depend on the all-rounder. If you need the all-rounder in the conditions, that would then lend itself to a decision around the top order. It will be how much we prioritise the bowling element. 'We've got roughly what we think it might look like, then there will be some decisions when we get to the pointy end. We'll try to give clarity to the players the closer we get.' McDonald also confirmed that only one of Josh Hazlewood, who has returned to India to play in the IPL finals, or Scott Boland would play at Lord's. The coach said while some players coming off long lay-offs and others off T20 cricket wasn't 'perfect', it also wasn't anything new. 'We have seven days of training. It will be good to see everyone come back together … it's a muddled mess in terms of the prep,' he said. 'It always causes you unease when there is a T20 tournament right up to the start of the WTC. I'm not saying it's perfect having people all over the world, but we are well versed in preparing players remotely, having guys with us, and bringing that all together. 'This has been a two-year journey, right back to the last WTC final. This is a priority for our group, they have zeroed in on it.'
