Follow UsIt was obvious that whichever team won the toss, they would opt to bowl first. The conditions at The Oval were overcast, and there were signs that it could be a great wicket to bowl first. At 2/1, it looked like an inspired decision from the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma. And they continued that good bowling over the next hour of play, testing the Australian batters.
But after that, the Indian bowlers lost the plot and started erring in their line and length, which allowed Australia to get away with the clash. Just at the stroke of lunch, Australia lost David Warner, who gave away his wicket against a down-the-leg-side delivery from Shardul Thakur.
What happened after Marnus Labuschagne’s dismissal was perhaps the biggest differentiator. Travis Head came out attacking, and the southpaw never stopped, with an intent that blew the Indian bowlers out of the attack, with a 156-ball 146, with 22 boundaries and a six.
In the post-match presentation, Head talked about the prospect of batting in those conditions at The Oval, stating that it was a ‘lot of hard work’.
"Losing the toss this morning, we've done exceptionally well. There's still plenty there as you could see with that second new ball. A lot of hard work to go tomorrow morning but nice to make a really good start,” Head spoke after the end of day one’s play of the World Test Championship Final.
Head also reckoned that he was ‘tested’ in a lot of parts during the first day’s play and added that the two batters needed to work together in those periods and adjust to the conditions. While stating that, the southpaw was quick to applaud Steve Smith, who scored 95 and absorbed all kinds of pressure from the other end.
“I was trying to make sure I was in really good positions today. I got tested through parts of that. I just tried to work through those periods and be adjustable. it's nice when you've got a bloke at the other end playing as well as he is, it's a nice start."
Australia finished the first day's play on 327/3, with Mohammed Siraj ending the day with the best figure for an Indian bowler, with 1/67. It was that kind of a day for India in the absence of ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.