The Albany Gazette - Siraj strikes early blow for India in WTC final against Australia

At the end of a testing first hour, Australia were 29-1 off 12 overs, with Siraj having taken 1-16 in six overs.

David Warner was 17 not out and Marnus Labuschagne 11 not out.

India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bowl first under overcast skies and on a green-tinged pitch that promised to assist his four-man pace attack.

It was not long before a bowling unit missing injured paceman Jasprit Bumrah justified Rohit's decision.

Mohammed Shami started with a lively maiden to under-pressure left-hander Warner, who had managed just one century in his previous 32 Test innings.

But it was Khawaja who fell for a 10-ball nought when he edged an excellent wobble seam delivery from Siraj that nipped away to wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat.

Australia, to the raucous delight of a mostly pro-India crowd, were then 2-1 in the fourth over.

Siraj struck Labuschagne a painful blow on the right hand when an 89 miles-per-hour (143 kilometres-per-hour) delivery rose off a good length, forcing the world's top-ranked Test batsman to drop his bat.

The match, the second WTC final, comes after a two-year programme of games. New Zealand defeated India in the inaugural 2021 edition in Southampton.

The WTC remains the only major men's cricket trophy Australia have yet to win.

The fixture also marks the start of a packed schedule of six Tests in eight weeks for Australia, including a five-match Ashes series against England.

(H.Schneide--BBZ)