SYDNEY (AP) — The scenarios are clear-cut for Australia going into Friday’s final match of the five-test series with India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
If the Australians win or draw the match, they will regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the first time since 2014-15. A win by India and a drawn series at 2-2 would allow the visitors to retain the trophy for a record-extending fifth consecutive time,
But more importantly for Australia, a win at the SCG would book the team’s spot in a second consecutive World Test Championship final. Australia beat India in the 2023 decider.
South Africa became the first team to qualify for the WTC final at Lord’s in June by winning a dramatic match at home to Pakistan last weekend.
On Thursday, Australia allrounder Mitchell Marsh was dropped for the final match against India, giving Beau Webster a test debut. Fast bowler Mitchell Starc was also named despite dealing with rib soreness at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during Australia’s 184-run win ending Monday to take a 2-1 series lead.
The 34-year-old Starc had scans on Wednesday and received the all-clear to take his spot in a bowling lineup with captain Pat Cummins, Scott Boland, and Nathan Lyon.
Marsh had only been called upon for 13 overs in the past three tests, and his pace appeared well down while he did not take a wicket.
Debuting in 2014, Marsh played 46 tests for a batting average of 28.53, which was highlighted by three Ashes centuries. His bowling was also strong at the start of his career, with 51 wickets at an average of 40.41.
”‘Mitchy’ obviously hasn’t quite got the runs and perhaps wickets this series,” Cummins said Thursday. “So we felt like it was time to freshen up, and Beau’s been great. It’s a shame for Mitchy because we know how much he brings to the team, but now it’s a good week for Beau (Webster) to get a chance.”
Webster has averaged 57.1 in first-class cricket since March 2022, picking up 81 wickets at 31.7.
Last year, the 31-year-old Webster became the first player since West Indian legend Garfield Sobers in 1963-64 to score 900 runs and take 30 wickets in Australia’s Sheffield Shield domestic season.
For India, Rishabh Pant has enjoyed playing in Sydney, scoring 159 not out, 36 and 97 in two tests at the SCG.
Captain Rohit Sharma’s return to the top of the order in Melbourne came at the expense of Shubman Gill, who played well in Adelaide for his 31 and 28 before missing out in Brisbane. The 25-year-old Gill made 50 and 31 the last time he played in Sydney, and he could be recalled to India’s starting XI at the SCG.
Teams:
Australia: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.
India (from): Rohit Sharma (captain), Jasprit Bumrah, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.