IND vs AUS Highlights, WTC Final Day 1, Full Cricket Score: Head, Smith help Australia reach 327/3 at stumps

23:08 (IST)

That brings us to the end of our coverage of the opening day of the 2021-23 ICC World Test Championship Final, with Australia recovering from early hiccups to surge ahead at The Oval thanks to a mighty partnership between Travis Head and Steve Smith and will hope to go past the 500 mark come tomorrow and make it their game to lose. India, though, can bring themselves back in the game with early wickets on Day 2 and give themselves a shot a restricting the Aussies within 400. Certainly a very difficult task given the manner in which Head and Smith have batted so far today, but not an impossible one.

For now, this is Amit signing off bidding you all good night. See you all tomorrow for our coverage of the second day's play.

22:56 (IST)

"Losing the toss this morning, we've done an exceptionally good job day one. Lot of hard work to do in the morning, but nice to come off with a really good start... I felt like today I was for most of my innings. I was tested, there were moments I thought they were going to come with plans… It's nice when you have got a bloke at the other end playing as well as he is. I always love batting with Steve, I always feel I go under the radar because there are so many plans bowling to him. You say second fiddle, but I feel like I am doing that to him."

— Travis Head (146*) in a chat with the broadcasters after stumps on Day 1.

22:52 (IST)

It was a day that began with an overcast morning and a green surface at The Oval, which which played its part in leading India skipper Rohit Sharma to opt to bowl after winning the toss. While the Indians were initially rewarded for their decision with Mohammed Siraj getting Usman Khawaja caught-behind for a 10-ball duck and Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Shami removing David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne on either side of the lunch interval, it was a one-way street from thereon as Steve Smith and Travis Head completely dominated the proceedings from thereon, stitching a partnership worth more than 250 and deflating India's spirits in the process.

Head stood out particularly for his aggressive approach from the word go that helped take pressure off Smith and signalled a shift in momentum. And while he brought up a well-deserved ton, Smith was left stranded on 95 after collecting a boundary off the last delivery of the day, and will now have to wait for nearly 12 hours before he can get to his 31st.

22:37 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 85 overs,Australia 327/3 ( Steven Smith 95 , Travis Head 146)

FOUR! Steve Smith drives Mohammed Shami for a boundary off the last ball of the day as Australia end the day well and truly on top, thoroughly bossing the day after losing the toss and the wicket of Usman Khawaja early.

22:28 (IST)

After 82 overs,Australia 306/3 ( Steven Smith 91 , Travis Head 129)

FOUR! Driven in front of square by Smith, who moves into the 90s in the process, off Siraj's bowling. He's nine short of his 31st ton — can he get there today itself? The Indians, meanwhile, will be more than eager for what turned out to be a very forgettable day to come to an end.

22:15 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 80 overs,Australia 301/3 ( Steven Smith 87 , Travis Head 128)

Siraj returns for another burst in the 80th over. Travis Head collects a single to bring up another milestone, that of Australia's 300 with seven wickets still intact. The southpaw nearly chops the ball onto the stumps later in the over while attempting to pull a short delivery, getting a deflection off the inside part of the blade. With the end of the 80th, the second new ball officially becomes available to the bowling side.

21:54 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 76 overs,Australia 289/3 ( Steven Smith 79 , Travis Head 124)

FOUR! FOUR! Head's toying with the Indian attack that looks quite jaded at the moment. Goes for an aerial drive over extra cover in the third delivery of the 76th before going for another uppercut off a short ball outside off ("Don't bowl wide and above his eye line," goes Ricky Ponting on air). The partnership has thoroughly deflated the Indians, judging by their body language. Another four overs to go before the second new ball is made available.
 

21:44 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 73 overs,Australia 276/3 ( Steven Smith 75 , Travis Head 115)

FOUR! Travis Head brings up the 200 of the partnership with Steve Smith in style, getting on the backfoot and punching the ball square, comfortably beating the man running to his left from deep backward point. The two have been absolutely dominant today and have stitched together a partnership that could very well be described as "match-definining".

21:40 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 72 overs,Australia 271/3 ( Steven Smith 74 , Travis Head 111)

FOUR! Effortlessly whipped away behind square leg by Head off a full delivery going down leg, allowing the southpaw to collect his 16th boundary in the process.

21:28 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 69 overs,Australia 263/3 ( Steven Smith 71 , Travis Head 106)

Change from both ends after the drinks interval, with Thakur and Jadeja replacing Siraj and Shami respectively. Steve Smith, meanwhile, decides to dance down the track against Ravindra Jadeja for a change, lofting the ball over mid off for a boundary. Makes it two fours in three balls later with a firm cover drive, moving into the 70s in the process. Partnership worth 187 now.

21:18 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 67 overs,Australia 247/3 ( Steven Smith 57 , Travis Head 105)

Smith and Head collect a boundary each in successive deliveries, albeit in different overs. While Smith whips a full delivery from Siraj away towards deep square leg, where Shardul Thakur fails to cut the ball off despite putting in a slide, Head punches a short-of-length delivery from Shami through the covers. With their milestones out of the way, the two will be a lot more relaxed in their approach and will aim to preserve their wickets till the close of play. Drinks brought to the field at the end of this over.

21:05 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 65 overs,Australia 238/3 ( Steven Smith 53 , Travis Head 100)

CENTURY IN THE ULTIMATE TEST TO TRAVIS HEAD! Brings up the milestone with a single off a pull towards square leg off Shami.

What a knock from the in-form middle-order batter, who brings up the milestone in 106 deliveries in what has been quite the counter-attacking knock that has put Australia well and truly on top on the opening day of the WTC final. The southpaw brings up the milestone for the sixth time in Tests, and for the first time on foreign soil.

20:53 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 62 overs,Australia 226/3 ( Steven Smith 50 , Travis Head 97)

Fifty up for Steve Smith in 144 deliveries! The Aussie No 4 brings up his 38th Test half-century with a single off Mohammed Siraj, who replaces Umesh Yadav in the attack in the 62nd over. Smudge has been rather circumspect so far today, letting Travis Head take all the risks against the Indian attack so far today.

20:49 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 60 overs,Australia 221/3 ( Steven Smith 49 , Travis Head 93)

Four. Dot. Four. And now Steven Smith decides to accelerate after playing the waiting game for so long, collecting two boundaries in a space of three deliveries off Umesh Yadav's bowling, guiding the ball past mid on on both occasions. The former Australia captain's batting on 49 at the end of the over.

20:38 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 59 overs,Australia 212/3 ( Steven Smith 41 , Travis Head 92)

FOUR! SIX! Shami gets punished for bowling two consecutive short deliveries well outside off, with Head arching back and going for consecutive uppercuts towards the vacant third man fence — clearing the boundary rope on the second occasion. Australia, meanwhile, have gone past the 200-mark now, and still have seven wickets intact. A total in excess of 300 with these still batting at the end of the day looks very much a possibility at the moment.

20:34 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 57 overs,Australia 192/3 ( Steven Smith 36 , Travis Head 77)

FOUR! Shami managed to create a chance as Head cut a short-of-length delivery behind square, with the ball zipping over Ajinkya Rahane's head at gully and running away for a four. Shami then gets an outside edge later in the over, though the ball ultimately falls short of first slip.

20:26 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 55 overs,Australia 184/3 ( Steven Smith 35 , Travis Head 70)

Head moves to 70 with a solid drive in front of square off a full delivery from Umesh for a boundary. At this point, he has scored twice as many runs as Steve Smith even though he walked in later and has faced far fewer deliveries. India skipper Rohit, meanwhile, decides to take spin off the attack for now, bringing Shami back into the mix, hoping he's able to extract some reverse swing and break this partnership.

20:11 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

Travis Head brings up the century stand with Steve Smith for the fourth wicket with a solid cover drive off Ravindra Jadeja followed by a single right after tea! The pair have consumed 172 deliveries in the stand so far, with Head playing the aggressor and having the lion's share of runs scored since the fall of Marnus Labuschagne's wicket. Australia firmly in control at the moment, and will be eyeing finishing with more than 300 runs at the close of play today. AUS 176/3

20:09 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 52 overs,Australia 171/3 ( Steven Smith 33 , Travis Head 60)

Umesh Yadav starts off with a maiden after tea, with just a leg bye getting added to the Aussie total in the first over after tea.

20:08 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

Travis Head and Steve Smith make their way to the centre along with the Indian players and umpires Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth as the final session of the opening day gets underway at The Oval.
 

19:46 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 51 overs,Australia 170/3 ( Steven Smith 33 , Travis Head 60)

TEA ON DAY 1: Ravindra Jadeja bowls out the final over of the session. Travis Head remains unbeaten on 60 off 75 with Steve Smith having faced 102 deliveries for his 33 so far as Australia dominate the second session, collecting 97 runs for the loss of just one wicket, to sit pretty on 170/3. Another session that has firmly belonged to the Aussies, who are off to a fantastic start in the 'Ultimate Test'.

19:38 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

FOUR! Umesh offers Head width, and the latter responds with a firm cut through point, collecting his 10th boundary in the process. AUS 168/3

19:36 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 49 overs,Australia 164/3 ( Steven Smith 33 , Travis Head 54)

Another five minutes to go before players head for tea, and it has been Australia's session all the way. The momentum, however, could shift in India's favour heading into the interval if they are able to break the solid fourth-wicket stand the way Siraj removed Warner before lunch.

19:27 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 46 overs,Australia 161/3 ( Steven Smith 32 , Travis Head 52)

Rohit decides to bring Umesh back into the attack in place of Thakur with another 15 minutes left for tea, hoping the senior Vidarbha pacer is able to break the fourth-wicket partnership that is now touching the century mark and could very well turn out to be a match-defining one. There's plenty of batting to follow for the Aussies with all-rounder Cameron Green and keeper-batter Alex Carey coming in next.

19:21 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

FOUR! Fifty up for Travis Head in 60 deliveries! The southpaw brings up the milestone — his 14th in Test cricket — with a punch through the covers off a short-of-length delivery from Shardul Thakur. This has been some response from Head, who walked in at a time when the Aussies found themselves in a spot of bother with two quick wickets. AUS 160/3

19:20 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 43 overs,Australia 153/3 ( Steven Smith 29 , Travis Head 47)

FOUR! Head decides to break the monotony with a firm drive through the extra cover region — his eighth boundary — after just two singles had been collected in the previous 18 deliveries. With that, the 150 comes up for the Aussies, with Head now one hit away from his half-century.

19:12 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 40 overs,Australia 147/3 ( Steven Smith 29 , Travis Head 41)

Spin introduced for the first time today with Ravindra Jadeja replacing Mohammed Siraj in the attack from the Vauxhall End with two singles and a leg-bye coming off his first over. Thakur then follows up his 16-run over by conceding three singles in his 10th.

18:59 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 38 overs,Australia 141/3 ( Steven Smith 28 , Travis Head 37)

Another 16-run over today and this time it's Shardul Thakur who gets punished for sloppy bowling. Head collects a boundary in the second delivery with a firm cut, getting a thick edge over the slip cordon. What's more, Thakur is found to have overstepped in that delivery. Later, Smith closes out the over with back-to-back fours, working the ball towards opposite sides of the wicket. This right after a maiden from Siraj, his fourth of the day.

18:44 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 36 overs,Australia 125/3 ( Steven Smith 19 , Travis Head 32)

FOUR! Flicked away through the square leg region by Smith off Thakur, collecting what is only his second boundary of the day so far. Brings up the fifty stand for the fourth wicket, does the boundary. Head, in comparision, has collected six already and is batting on 32 off 28 balls. End of the first hour of the second session, and it's time for the players to have a drink.

18:38 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 33 overs,Australia 116/3 ( Steven Smith 13 , Travis Head 29)

Rohit brings Thakur back into the attack, making the first change of the session, giving Shami a break and Siraj a different end to operate from. Thakur oversteps in his first delivery of the new spell, but creates a chance right after by firing a short-of-length delivery to Head, who ends up getting a leading edge towards gully, where the ball lands marginally out of Rahane's reach. Maiden to Siraj in the following over

18:30 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

FOUR! FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Travis Head, who's producing quite the counter-attack at the moment and has managed to put the Indians under pressure right away. Flicks a full delivery going down leg behind square before slashing hard at a short-of-length delivery outside off. He's batting in white-ball mode at the moment and can cause major damage to the Indians unless they are able to keep him quiet somehow. AUS 112/3 in 30.3

18:17 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 30 overs,Australia 104/3 ( Steven Smith 12 , Travis Head 19)

FOUR! Head brings up the 100 for the Aussies with his fourth boundary of the day, once again going for a flick through the midwicket region off a full delivery from Siraj. Later in the over, Smith cops a couple of blows on his back thigh after getting beaten by the inward movement generated by Siraj.

18:09 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 28 overs,Australia 97/3 ( Steven Smith 12 , Travis Head 13)

FOUR! Flicked away effortlessly by Head off a full delivery from Siraj pitched between middle and leg, the ball gliding through the midwicket region and comfortably beating the fielding giving it a chase. The southpaw, who has collected three fours in quick time, moves to double figures in the process.

18:03 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

FOUR! Tickled away towards fine leg by Smith off Shami, beating keeper Bharat diving to his left. A leg-slip in that direction might have come in handy for the Indians on that occasion. AUS 89/3 in 26.2

18:02 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 26 overs,Australia 85/3 ( Steven Smith 5 , Travis Head 8)

Ideal start for the Indians after lunch, with Mohammed Shami getting rid of the top-ranked Test batter with a jaffa as the Aussies lose two wickets for five runs. Travis Head is the next man to walk out to bat, restoring the left-right combination, and he gets off to a confident start with a boundary each off Shami and Siraj.

17:52 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

BOWLED! Mohammed Shami strikes after lunch, getting rid of Marnus Labuschagne (26) with a delivery that jags back in and beats his inside edge to rattle the off stump. Labuschagne departs for 26 as India managed to get rid of Warner and Labuschagne, who had built quite the spirited partnership, on either side of the lunch interval. AUS 76/3

Labuschagne b Shami 26(62)

17:49 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 24 overs,Australia 76/2 ( Marnus Labuschagne 26 , Steven Smith 4)

A tidy over from Siraj to start off in the post-lunch session with three coming off it, including a wide off the first ball. Excellent save by Shami near the fine leg boundary in the third delivery to save a couple of runs for the fielding side and restrict Smith to a double.

17:47 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

Mohammed Siraj starts off with the ball in hand after lunch with ex-skipper Steve Smith on strike. India will need an early wicket or two if they are to exert pressure again.

17:11 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 23 overs,Australia 73/2 ( Marnus Labuschagne 26 , Steven Smith 2)

LUNCH ON DAY 1: Umesh Yadav bowls out the final over before lunch, conceding just a single with new batter and former captain Steve Smith moving to 2 as Australia end what turned out to be a fine morning session after getting invited to bat despite losing the wicket of Usman Khawaja early. Bright sunshine in London at the moment, and if it continues that way in the second session as well, both Smith and Marnus Labuschagne will back themselves to take full toll of the Indian bowlers.

We'll be back in sometime for our coverage of the second session. Don't go anywhere.

16:59 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

OUT! Shardul Thakur strikes minutes before lunch, getting rid of the set batter in David Warner — who ends up getting caught-behind after getting strangled down the leg side. AUS 71/2

Warner c Bharat b Thakur 43(60)

16:58 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 20 overs,Australia 62/1 ( David Warner 39 , Marnus Labuschagne 22)

Umesh manages to keep things tidy after going for 16 in his second over, conceding just one off the next two including a maiden. Just two runs off the 20th, bowled by Thakur.

16:45 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 18 overs,Australia 60/1 ( David Warner 39 , Marnus Labuschagne 20)

Thakur appeals twice for leg-before against Labuschagne in successive overs, with India skipper Rohit opting to review on both occasions after the umpire shakes his head. The first one's 'Umpire's Call' while the ball is shown to be sailing over the stumps in the second, resulting in India losing their review.

16:33 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 15 overs,Australia 54/1 ( David Warner 37 , Marnus Labuschagne 16)

Four. Dot. Four. Four. Four. David Warner launches a full-scale attack against some wayward stuff from Umesh Yadav, who is off to an expensive start after being introduced on the other side of the drinks interval. 16 off the Vidarbha seamer's second over with the fifty partnership coming up for the second wicket in the process.

16:29 (IST)

IND vs AUS WTC Final LIVE

After 14 overs,Australia 38/1 ( David Warner 21 , Marnus Labuschagne 16)

Change from both ends following the drinks interval, with Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur replacing Shami and Siraj respectively. Both concede a boundary in their first overs — Warner going for a cover drive off a full, wide delivery from Umesh and Labuschagne punching the ball down the ground off Thakur.

16:13 (IST)

India vs Australia, ICC WTC Final LIVE Score

After 12 overs,Australia 29/1 ( David Warner 17 , Marnus Labuschagne 11)

Labuschagne clips a full delivery from Siraj through the midwicket region, getting enough timing on the shot for it to be a boundary in most venues across the world. The huge boundaries at the Oval, however, gives the fielder a chance to save a run and that's what Shardul Thakur ends up doing. Drinks brought to the field at the end of this over, marking the end of the first hour of play. Expect a bowling change or two after this interval.

16:04 (IST)

India vs Australia WTC Final LIVE Cricket Score

FOUR! Pitched slightly short by Shami, and Warner has little issue pulling this in front of square. The sweeper runs to his right from deep square-leg, but is unable to get to the ball on time. AUS 26/1

16:03 (IST)

India vs Australia WTC Final LIVE Cricket Score

After 10 overs,Australia 22/1 ( David Warner 13 , Marnus Labuschagne 8)

Just one run collected in the last two overs, with Siraj collecting his second maiden of the day. Siraj appeals for LBW in the final delivery of the 10th, but the umpire shakes his head.

15:56 (IST)

India vs Australia WTC Final LIVE Cricket Score

After 8 overs,Australia 21/1 ( David Warner 13 , Marnus Labuschagne 7)

OUCH! Labuschagne cops a painful blow on his left thumb, getting hit by a delivery that lifts off after being dug in short by Siraj, with the bat flying out from his grasp. The world No 1 Test batter takes a bit to recuperate from the blow before resuming his innings. Gets off strike two balls later, clipping the ball through the leg side and getting enough time to come back for a third.

15:33 (IST)

India vs Australia WTC Final LIVE Cricket Score

After 6 overs,Australia 16/1 ( David Warner 12 , Marnus Labuschagne 3)

FOUR! Short and wide from Siraj, Warner gets a thick outside edge off a slash with the ball flying over the slip cordon and away to the third man fence, resulting in the first boundary of the Australian innings. Warner follows it up with a punch wide of mid on, getting enough time to come back for a third.
 

15:30 (IST)

India vs Australia WTC Final LIVE Cricket Score

After 4 overs,Australia 4/1 ( David Warner 2 , Marnus Labuschagne 2)

David Warner opens Australia's account with a brace in the third over of the innings, clipping the ball through the midwicket region. Siraj strikes in the following over, reaping the reward for persisting with a tight line to Khawaja. Labuschagne joins Warner at the centre, and gets off the mark right away with a brace off a glance towards fine leg.