ICC WTC final: Australia or India? Ravi Shastri, Ricky Ponting and Wasim Akram pick favourites

While all three chose Australia as favourites, Shastri reckons match fitness will play a vital role in deciding the outcome of the match.

Jun 5, 2023 - 13:30

ICC WTC final: Australia or India? Ravi Shastri, Ricky Ponting and Wasim Akram pick favourites

Australia, led by Pat Cummins, will face-off against India, captained by Rohit Sharma, for the coveted Test Mace at the The WTC Final, set to be played at The Oval from June 7-11.

A pre-game live event, An Afternoon with Test Cricket Legends, saw the two captains join eminent cricketing personalities including Ravi Shastri, Ricky Ponting, Wasim Akram, Ian Bell and Ross Taylor, to commemorate the upcoming World Test Championship final.

Hosted by Harsha Bhogle, the event began with a panel of Shastri, Ponting and Akram.

Speaking about the importance of the WTC final in the contemporary game, Ponting discussed how the event was comparable to a Cricket World Cup final.

“It’s like a World Cup final, for a Test match. In a World Cup, you play 10 or 12 games to be good enough to earn the right to win a mace like that. These two teams have over the last two years have earned the right to be out here, in a couple of days time, in a one-off game, to be able to hold that thing (mace) at the end,” Ponting said.

“I think that players from both teams need to go out there and put out the best spectacle they possibly can. Play...