Australia's battle against India for the crown jewel in Test Cricket  

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Our Predictions 

• Indian team has won only once at the Kennington Oval in 14 appearances, and they have struggled here 
• Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne have made more than 3100 runs in the last two years  
• India's batsmen have struggled in the last two years, apart from Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara 

MATCH PREVIEW     

It is the ICC World Test Championship Final, and we expect an exciting game between Australia and India. The two most deserving teams have made it to the final, and they will extend their rivalry here. Though the Indians have had the upper hand over the Australias with a 6-3 record in the last five years, the conditions here would be challenging for Indians. Australia has a strong fast-bowling attack, and they will test the Indians in this game. It will be a contest between Australia's fast bowlers and the famed Indians batting line-up.  

Australia Preview      

Pat Cummins' will look to grab the title after finishing at the top of the points table in the championship cycle. But the Australian skipper will be wary of India's recent record against them. The conditions in England would suit his side more than the Indians, and Cummins would like to take full advantage of this. He will expect a good show from the bowling attack, as the Indian team is a batting powerhouse.  

Usman Khawaja and Travis Head did well against India in the last tour, and the pair will have to lay a strong platform in this game. Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are the best batters in the side, and they will look to add runs with Alex Carey in the middle order. Cameron Green and Cummins shall have important roles in the lower middle order.      

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will enjoy bowling on this track, and they will look to put Indians under pressure with the new ball. Cummins and Nathan Lyon bring vast experience and they will have important roles to play in this game. The Aussies have depth in the bowling with Cameron Green, Scott Boland, and Labuschagne in the team.  

Expected Starting XI for Australia     

Pat Cummins (c), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland 

India Preview     

Rohit Sharma wouldn't like a repeat of the last Test Championship Final they played, where they lost to New Zealand. In recent years the side has done well against the Australians at home and in Australia. However, the conditions in England will be tricky, and most batters come here after a long IPL season. Sharma would look to lead from the front and earn the biggest crown in Test cricket.  

Rohit Sharma has a good record in England and will look to deliver a good start with IPL star Shubman Gill. The Aussies' new ball attack is strong, and this pair must do well. Cheteshwar Pujara is in sublime form, and he has to anchor the innings with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane in the middle order. This batting line-up has depth, and they will expect runs from Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat, and Shardul Thakur.  

Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami are the spearheads of the Indian bowling attack, and both these bowlers hit the deck hard. A good show from them with the new ball will put India in a strong position. Mohammad Siraj and Thakur have enjoyed bowling in England, and the team management will have high hopes for them. Jadeja will have to work his magic with the old ball and put Australia under pressure.  

Expected Starting XI for India     

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat (wk), Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav. 

TOSS: To Bowl First      

The conditions at Oval are good for fast bowlers at the start of the game. It is challenging to bat on this track on the first day, and the conditions improve from Day 2 onward. Hence, we believe the side winning the toss would look to bowl first and make good use of the early assistance from the track.  

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS      

The skies over London will be clear on most days of the game though we may see odd clouds as it is common during this time of the year. It will be a good track where fast bowlers can move the ball and batsmen who spend time on the crease can score runs. The side batting first will be happy to have 400 runs in the 1st innings.  

OUR PREDICTION      

The Indian team enters this game with a major headache, as their batters haven't been consistent in the last two years. The conditions in England will test their skills and temperament, and they will need a good performance from the Top 5. Australians have a fast bowling attack well-suited for these conditions. While we expect a close contest between the two teams, the Aussies shall have a slight edge.  

Our Prediction is for Australia to win