The 2023 World Test Championship final sees Australia take on India at The Oval in London.
In 2019, the ICC announced a majority of Test matches would now be played for World Test Championship points, with a final to be played every two years between the two top teams of that period.
New Zealand are the reigning champions, having beaten India in the last final in 2021, but failed to qualify for this year’s final.
Australia finished 3rd in the 2019-21 edition, with a points deduction for a slow over rate in the 2020 Boxing Day Test loss to India at the MCG proving crucial. They finished second behind India in the 2021-23 edition.
Australia have named a strong squad for the match, but will be without fast bowler Josh Hazlewood due to an Achilles injury; he has been replaced in the squad by Michael Neser. India will continue to be without the services of star wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who has been sidelined since December after suffering major injuries in a car crash.
Like most Tests, the match will be played over five days, but in the event of poor weather, there is a sixth reserve day that can only be used if time is lost over the preceding five. This reserve day was used during the 2021 World Test Championship final, meaning New Zealand beat India on Day 6 of that match.
Here is your guide to watching the match on TV or streaming it online.
It was announced in March that Channel Seven had bought exclusive rights to broadcast the World Test Championship final.
That means the match will not be shown on Foxtel or its streaming partner Kayo Sports, unlike the majority of other international matches involving Australia, the World Test Championship final.
There has been plenty of conflicting information about what time the day’s play will begin, but as of Wednesday morning, each day is scheduled to start at 7:30pm (AEST); that’s 5:30pm for Western Australian viewers and 7pm for those in South Australia and the Northern Territory. Seven will begin their pre-day coverage at approximately 7pm AEST on all days.
Please note that due to Seven’s coverage of AFL matches across the weekend, what channel the match is on will depend on where you are watching from, and may change during play.
For example, Melbourne audiences will find the World Test Championship final on 7Mate when it clashes with Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday night AFL games, while NSW and Brisbane viewers will nearly always have the match on the main Seven channel. We recommend checking your local listings to determine which channel the match will be on and at what times.
Please note as well that Seven will not be broadcasting the 2023 Ashes series which closely follows the World Test Championship final; those five Tests will instead be broadcast exclusively on Channel Nine.
Seven have announced streaming service 7Plus will broadcast the full World Test Championship final, as well as provide full on-demand replays and all the highlights following the close of play, so you can catch up on all the action if you’re unwilling to burn the midnight oil.
7Plus is available on any device you are likely to own, including laptops, smartphones and tablets. Simply download the free 7Plus app, sign in or register with your details, and stream away!
Can’t tune in to the World Test Championship final? Never fear – here at The Roar, we’ll be running a live blog with every day’s play, and will be bringing you all the highlights, talking points, drama and action from London.
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