‘London will not be big enough, if this becomes a reality’: Matthew Hayden on the prospect of India chasing 444 in 2023 WTC Final
When skipper Pat Cummins was dismissed in the second session of the fourth day of the 2023 World Test Championship final Mohammed Shami, Australia had no reason to bat any longer. With a lead of 443, Cummins and Co declared their second innings and set a daunting task for India in the fourth innings.
Never at The Oval have as many runs been scored in the fourth innings. The highest is 429/8, from the Indian team that toured in 1979. The highest successful chase is 263. With the odds tilted against India, former Australia skipper Matthew Hayden believes that if done, the biggest city in the world will be too small to celebrate a horic win.
“London will not be big enough, if this becomes a reality for Team India,” Hayden said on the ICC broadcast feed ahead of India’s fourth innings.
Earlier on day three, Australia resumed their innings at 123/4, with Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green in the middle.
Umesh Yadav would provide India with their first breakthrough as Labuschagne nicked on to Cheteshwar Pujara in slips. Later in the session, Ravindra Jadeja would strike as Cameron Green was cleaned up after he decided to pad a turning delivery that ricocheted off his pads to clip the stumps behind.
Alex Carey (66*) would add 93 runs for the seventh wicket with Mitchell Starc (41) before the latter was picked up Mohammed Shami followed the dismissal of Cummins and the declaration.
