🏏ICC WTC Finals: Aus vs SA at Lords, 11 - 15 June 25 - Day 4🏏 - Page 3

Some details on the Lord's pitch: "A bright, creamish carpet tinged with faint green - the Lord's pitch is like a strip of band aid in the middle of verdant green otherwise. But don't that let you fooled into thinking it could be flat. It is learned that the groundsman Karl Mcdermott has been busy using the heavy roller in the week leading into the final. As a consequence, the grass has been padded in but the the surface is likely to be hard and provide good bounce across the five days."

Thank you, Raji, for the thread and for tagging.

Thanks Raji for the tag and thread

Out walk the Aussie openers. It is Marnus with Usman Khawaja. KG Rabada with the new ball. A critical first hour of play coming up in an all important final. Slightly overcast skies, a gentle breeze blowing. Four slips in place, and a short leg

Giant flags of both nations carried along by plenty of young volunteers are placed near the pitch.

Khawaja and Labuschagne are at the crease. Khawaja is on strike. Rabada will open the attack

AUS 0/0 (3.3)

Day 1: 1st Session

Marco Jansen to Labuschagne, no run, 137 clicks, good length and shapes in from fifth stump, Labuschagne lets that pass

Over 3.4

Jansen to Labuschagne, 2 runs

Finally runs on the board and Labuschagne is off the mark.

Marco Jansen to Labuschagne, 2 runs, fuller and angling wide outside off, Labuschagne leans closer and presses at the ball to drive towards sweeper cover. Two runs taken

Five overs in, the pitch slows slightly slow. There is a gentle breeze blowing through the crowd. South Africa have beaten the bat on a couple of occasions, but not the pressure hasn't felt consistent

Originally posted by: Savera84

Most of Australia's squad have been there and done it before. They know what to expect and how to handle the occasion, with the core of the group gunning for a fourth world title across three formats in four years. They boast of one of the best bowling quartets of all time, and have one of the best batters of all time in Steven Smith, who has been back near his best this year. Travis Head is also on a streak of consecutive match-winning centuries in his last two global finals.

But they had some key questions to answer over the XI. Cameron Green being fit to bat, and in fine form, but unable to bowl is a spanner in the works given he has not played in Australia's last seven Tests. He will now bat No. 3 for just the second time in his first-class career, in his first Test in 15 months, while Marnus Labuschagne opens the batting for the first time in Test cricket. It will also mean Usman Khawaja will have a fifth different opening partner in nine Tests.

South Africa's batting order has lined up as expected. But most of them will be unknowns of sorts to Australia's attack, with only Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma having played Test cricket against them before, although Australia's quicks have seen plenty of Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton in the IPL, with Stubbs and Mitchell Starc having also played together.

Thanks RJ ji ♥️

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Rabada to Khawaja, OUT

Usman Khawaja c Bedingham b Rabada 0 (20b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

Rabada to Khawaja, out Caught by Bedingham!! Gone! KG Rabada has deserved this one! Khawaja c Bedingham b Rabada 0(20)

Rabada to Khawaja, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

He faced 20 balls!