India, Aussie batters eye final with mixed feelings

Conditions in England mean performances have gone up and down for key players. And a Test at The Oval in June may pose a different challenge

- Vivek Krishnan

NEW DELHI: For the current set of India and Australia batters, any mention of their having played Tests in England can evoke joy and trepidation. Virat Kohli scored 593 runs at an average of 59.3 in 2018, but he also averaged 13.4 across five Tests in 2014. Steve Smith amassed Bradmanesque numbers in 2019-774 runs at 110.57 in four Tests - but he was also part of a unit that was rolled. over for 60 in 2015. Cheteshwar Pujara dug in for almost six hours to make an unbeaten 132 in Southampton in 2018, but he also endured a stretch where his highest score in nine innings was 24.

These swings are common in England. While the amount of grass on the pitch has a perceptible impact, overhead conditions also have an influence on the balance between bat and ball. When it's sunny, batting can seem comfortable and convenient. Under grey skies, though there's no proven correlation between swing and atmospheric conditions, the ball can jag around and cause the batter all sorts of problems.

It's these uncertainties that are likely to keep India and Australia's batters on tenterhooks as they amp up preparations for the World Test Championship final starting at The Oval in London on Wednesday. Playing this one-off Test on neutral ground, in England, arguably puts both teams at a disadvantage.