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Right after the conclusion of ongoing Indian Premier League, Team India will lock horns with Australia in the all-important World Test Championship (WTC) final which will be played at the Ovals between June 7 and June 11.
It will be for the second time that India will be playing the WTC final as they lost to New Zealand in the previous edition. Meanwhile Australia will make their maiden appearance in the marquee clash. Australia will look to take revenge of their Border-Gavaskar 2023's 1-2 series defeat to India earlier this year in February.
Boland turned down County contract to focus on WTC final
Meanwhile, Australia's star pacer Scott Boland made a big revelation and said that he turned down a County contract to focus on the imminent World Test Championship (WTC) final and Ashes. Boland rose to fame in last year's Ashes series against England when he stunned everyone with a magnificent spell of 7/6 on his Test debut when he became the second Indigenous Australia male to play a red ball game. He played an instrumental role to put Australian 3-0 ahead in the 5-match assignment and seal the fate of the series, with the hosts retaining the Ashes.
But Boland, who is 34 now, stated that for now his only focus is WTC final and Ashes not the County cricket.
"I did have the opportunity to play county cricket this year, but I prioritised being a bit fresher going into six Tests in two months," Boland told cricket.com.au.
"I know my body, that if I'm at a stage where I'm getting tired, I want to keep my career going for as long as I can. I don't want to burn out. It will be tough for fast bowlers to play all six games," Boland said.
"I'm definitely preparing to play. It could be at the start, it could be halfway through. I'm not sure. But I'm planning to play and excited to play whenever they choose me," he further added.
India’s WTC final squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk).
Australia's WTC final squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, David Warner.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
WTC Final: Report reveals schedule for Team India's departure to England as battle with Australia edges closer
Cheteshwar Pujara gets out to Australian pacer for first duck of the season, Steve Smith hits first fifty for Sussex before WTC final
