Nasser Hussain selects a combined India-Australia XI for the WTC final, excluding Ravindra Jadeja and Shubman Gill.

India and Australia are scheduled to face off in the World Test Championship final 2023 on June 7 at The Oval in London, one week from now. Former England cricketer Nasser Hussain has selected his combined XI from the two competing teams prior to the highly anticipated match. The eleven competitors include four Indians and seven Australians.

The most surprising omission from Hussain’s combined Playing XI was Ravindra Jadeja, India’s all-rounder. In England, the southpaw has scored three fifties and one century at an average of 29.70 and has taken 23 wickets. However, the former England captain chose off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin over Jadeja and Nathan Lyon as the only spinner in the squad, arguing that since the final is in England, the team does not need two spinners.

“If the World Test Championship Final was held in India or the subcontinent, I might select Jadeja at number six.” However, I am not because it is in England. Cameron Green will be my bowling all-rounder seam bowler selection. I want him as my all-around player. Ravi Ashwin would be my spin bowler at number eight. And he batters very well at number eight,” Hussain told The ICC Review.

Hussain chose Rohit Sharma as the team captain and Usman Khawaja as the opening batsman in his combined eleven. He then chose Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, and Virat Kohli, three of the finest batters of the modern era, at positions three, four, and five, respectively.

“Rohit Sharma, very easily, batting first and serving as captain for me. I admire how Rohit captains. I’d like to have Shubman (Gill) in, but I believe it’s too early for him to sneak into my combined XI, so I’ll open the batting with Usman Khawaja. Then, three of the greatest cricketers of all time, (Marnus) Labuschagne, (Steve) Smith, and (Virat) Kohli, come in at three, four, and five,” Hussain added.

The former England captain rounded out his selection with fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Mohammed Shami, and Pat Cummins, and wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

The combined India-Australia Test XI of Nasser Hussain
Rohit Sharma (captain), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Ashwin, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Mohammed Shami.