Graeme Swann and Team India. (Photo Source: Twitter)
The excitement for the title decider of the World Test Championship 2023 has reached its peak, with less than 24 hours left for the summit clash. India and Australia are all geared up for the mega contest scheduled to be played from June 7 at the Oval in London. Commenting on such a high-voltage encounter, former England spinner Graeme Swann said that he’d be favoring the Indian side to win.
Swann mentioned that the pitch, at this time of the year, should be really helpful for the seamers as it tends to be pretty flat, quick, and also has a bit of grass covering making it difficult for the batters early on in the innings. The former England spinner looked baffled when asked about who he thinks will be the favorites heading into the summit clash, but eventually made his choice in a funny fashion.
In a preview show on Jio Cinema, the 44-year-old predicted that being an Englishman he would love to see India defeat Australia and end their ten-year-long drought of winning any ICC Trophy.
“India have got some brilliant seam bowlers as well. So I think it’s a tricky one to answer. My prediction for the game is this – I am an Englishman, I would love to see India beat Australia, please,” Swann predicted.
It’s a great place to bowl spin: Swann
The role of the spinner at the Oval becomes even more crucial when the cracks start to open up as the game progresses. As both the teams have quality spinners in their ranks, it will be really fascinating to watch the team combination.
Swann was also asked about the role of spinners on this ground, to which he replied saying that one of the finest things about bowling at The Oval is the bounce. The Oval is often recognized for its bounce which presents a challenge for the batters while facing spinners.
“The best thing about bowling at The Oval is the bounce. It’s almost like the red-soil pitches at the Wankhede. Later on in the game, it can really bounce, brings in your silly point and short-leg fielders. So the spinners, if they stay in the game, you have to have a lot of runs to defend in the last innings. It’s a great place to bowl spin,” Swann concluded.
