Australia have put themselves in a commanding position to pull off World Test Championship glory and should get the job done from here.
Runs are flowing and wickets are being taken. Australia will be chuffed with their efforts on day one and two.
Keep an eye out for Malcolm Conn’s match report, as well as all the latest news from the UK.
Dan Brettig has also filed an analysis piece, which will go live shortly.
Make sure you follow along tomorrow. Rugby league scribe Dan Walsh will be in the blogging chair, serving up plenty of gold. Enjoy! Cheers.
Nathan Lyon celebrates after taking the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja. Getty
3.04am on Jun 9, 2023
Stumps: Australia on top as India finished day two on 5-151
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For the second day in a row, Australia have taken honours in this World Test Championship final in London.
After being bowled out for 469, thanks to a handy late cameo of 48 from Alex Carey, Australia worked hard on Thursday to put India in a precarious position thanks to an all-round performance from a potent bowling unit.
Pat Cummins’ men have a handy 318-run lead.
Each of Australia’s five bowlers took a wicket as India’s experienced top four (Sharma, Gill, Pujara and Kohli) all failed to pass 15.
Things are boding well for the Ashes next week. India will need to pull off something seriously special to get themselves back in this match.
Just like yesterday, another horrible over rate. All up, including the change of innings, 13 overs weren’t bowled today.
Scott Boland goes about his business on day two. Getty
2.45am on Jun 9, 2023
Lyon gets the breakthrough as Jadeja makes his way off
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Nathan Lyon has helped Australia break a 71-run partnership at a crucial moment of the day.
Jadeja (48 from 51 balls) edges Lyon, coming around the wicket, to Steve Smith at first slip. Simple catch.
Rahane and Jadeja helped India double their first innings total but at 5-142, there is still a mountain of work to do.
Australia’s 469 is looking very handy at the moment.
Lyon strikes in his second over. Another shrewd piece of captaincy from Pat Cummins today. He’s barely put a foot wrong. Clever bowling changes.
Fans on day two at The Oval. Getty
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2.36am on Jun 9, 2023
Lyon gets his chance for a late wicket
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Here we go. Lyon will bowl the 33rd over of this Indian innings.
Ball one: Rahane blocks one to mid-off.
Ball two: short and wide, Lyon is lucky that ball doesn’t go for a boundary.
Ball three: Rahane works one off his hip for a single.
Ball four: Jadeja also get one into the leg side for a run.
Ball five: defended, no run. Better line from Lyon.
Green hits Rahane in the helmet and Rahane hits Boland through the covers for four.
Sums up the last 15 minutes or so.
Australia are searching for a fifth wicket. No matter what, they’ll finish the day as favourites to take out this WTC final but funnier things have happened if this pair and their mates to follow can produce something special.
Time for Lyon to come into the attack? Ricky Ponting reckons, with just over 30 minutes remaining today, it may not be too far away.
Jadeja is playing with plenty of freedom as he lofts Boland off his pads for a maximum. Lots of bottom hand in that.
Boland follows it up with a gorgeous delivery that swings away from the left-handed Jadeja. Play and miss. Great shape on the ball there.
India 4-111 (Jadeja 31, Rahane 17)
Mitchell Starc unsuccessfully appeals. Getty
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2.01am on Jun 9, 2023
‘We’ve moved on’: Paine joins Cricket Australia in coaching role
By Malcolm Conn
Eight months after heavily criticising Cricket Australia in his book about the way he was forced out as captain, Tim Paine is joining the sport’s governing body as a part-time coach of the Australian Under-19 and Australia A teams.
His return to the national fold comes after Paine claimed in his book The Price Paid: A Story of Life, Cricket and Lessons Learned, that he was coerced into standing down as national captain after a historical sexting scandal became public, despite two inquiries previously clearing him.
A wicket apiece for Australia’s seamers. Lyon is yet to get his hands on the ball and rightly so. He’ll get a few overs at some stage today but this pitch is offering enough sideways movement to justify keeping the quick men on.
Play can continue for another 90 minutes.
Cummins’ economy rate is a little higher than he’d like. Seems to be having some dramas with his run-up, given the number of no-balls. To be fair, he hasn’t bowled much in the last two months. Good to find some rhythm before next Friday’s first Test at Edgbaston against England.