IND vs AUS WTC Final Day 1 STUMPS: Head and Smith show powers Australia to 327/3 on opening day

So, that was Day 1. Australia bossed the day with a big 327 on the board. Travis Head's brilliant ton and Smith's supportive role gets Australia to a huge total at The Oval. Ever heard a perfect day? Well this can be said very close to that. On a green surface at The Oval Australia put a dominant show. Their was movement and the Indian bowlers found swing too. They did not make it easy for Australia and kept them under check in the first session. But Travis Head turned things on its head. His century has set Australia pretty nicely for something like 450 or 500. Will India get some wickets early on Day 2 to pull things back? We will find that out soon. It was it from our side for the day. Catch you on Day 2 of the game

The new ball was taken in the 81st over itself but the runs are keep flowing like anything

300 is up and Australia are all over India. Smith is in late 80s and Head is 125+. New ball is available.

We did not had a single hundred in previous WTC Final. And now we are about to have a second one. Smith is closing in on a ton. Australia have gone past 250. 400 on cards?

Head has turned this contest on its head and has slammed a brilliant ton. This is the first hundred in WTC Final and 6th for Head. He has been in some amazing touch today. India need to get him or we are going to have a big big total ahead of us. Australia are nearing 250

And the modern great Smith has got to his fifty. He raises his bat in delight, has carried his team amazingly. Proper Test match stuff. Indians trying hard but that W is elduing them right now. Hang on, Head is about to get 100

Smith and Head are continuing their march and they are pushing India way on the back foot. Head is in 90s and Smith is 1 run away from 50. Australia 221/3 after 60

The third session is underway and the Aussie batters - Smith and Head are out in the middle. Umesh Yadav to start things for India

It's the end of second session and Australia have bossed the session. Lost just one wicket and scored 97 runs in 28 overs. India made a good start to the session as Shami removed Labuschagne but then came Travis Head, who played with positive intent. He hit a 62-ball fifty and kept piling runs. He is unbeaten on 60 and Smith is nicely holding one end and is on 33. Australia's session from any angle you look at. It will be some grind for the Indian bowlers in the next session.

And its fifty for Travis Head. A 60-ball fifty with 9 fours and a strike rate of around 85. He is hitting well

And this session is being even better for Australia. They have lost just one wicket and are scoring at around 4 an over. 150 is up and Head is poised for a fifty here.

So after the 38 overs, here's the first glimpse of spin in the game. Ravindra Jadeja has come to bowl. A slip and a short leg in place for him.

Not a good start for India after drinks. Shardul gives away 16 runs in the second over after break. Two no-balls and three boundaries. Aussies getting some quick runs

The first hour is done in the second session here and it's been a fine battle uptill now. Shardul has shown good movement and Head is hitting runs at a good pace. Australia 125/3 after 36 overs.

Smith and Head are looking good for Australia!!

Some good bowling from Thakur...He is swinging the 30-over old ball well

Travis Head is playing some attacking cricket here!! He can take the game away from India

Head is playing Bazball kind of cricket here

Shami has kept Smith guessing!! A very good battle between bat and bal going on

Mohammed Shami delivers a peach to remove Labuschagne first ball after Lunch

Can he pick up an early wicket?

Australia end Session 1 at 73/2 after 23 overs!

David Warner is gone!!! He threw his wicket away!!! A crucial breakthrough for India

With LUNCH only 14 minutes away, India would like to go in with one more wicket!! Can they?

Umesh has done well after that expensive over!! Can he give India a breakthrough though?

Shardul Thakur is creating chances but India have lost their first DRS

A good backfoot shot from Labuschagne for four

A close call but it always looked not out. India don't lose DRS

Warner is on fire!! Umesh Yadav is leaking runs and how!! Warner smashes four boundaries off his single over

Amid all the talks of bad form and retirement, Warner is looking in good touch in the middle!!

Shardul Thakur is into the attack now!!

Can he pick up an early wicket?

Australia are 29/1 after 12 overs in the first hour!!! It has been an even hour with no team giving away any sort of advantage!!! An exciting second hour coming up!!

That four off the backfoot off Shami was all class from Warner!!

Siraj has been brilliant in his opening spell!!! He has asked a lot of questions and also has the only wicket to fall! 

India's new ball bowlers have been spot on so far!! Can India keep the pressure going? Or will Australia stitch a partnership?

India continue to keep the pressure on the Aussies!!! Siraj is the man who is making the ball talk for India

Siraj's first delivery of the 8th over bounced from short of a good length area and hit him on his hands....That has hurt him!!

Runs are hard to come by. Shami and Siraj are bowling well at the moment. But even Warner and Labuschagne are up for the challenge. Good Test cricket being played out there

Shami and Siraj are bowling well...but Labuschagne and Warner are slowly getting going!!

We are almost half an hour into the game and the Aussie players have not hit a single boundary. Indians are keeping this tight. Marnus Labuschagne is the new batter and he is welcomed with four slips and a short leg for Shami and Siraj

And Siraj has drawn the first blood. He gets Khawaja out on duck. This was pitched on a good length, swung a bit and the Aussie opener has a little poke at it. Bharat does the rest and grabs it safely. Big blow! Khawaja is the second highest run-scorer in this WTC cycle.

Indian seamers have made a brilliant start to the game. Shami and Siraj are making the ball move and trouble the Aussie batters. Khawaja is standing outside the crease to negotiate the swing. Aussies opened their account after 16 balls. India keeping it tight.

Can Shami strike early? Here we go!!

Players come out on the field!!!!!

Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat (WK), Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav.

India won the toss and opted to bowl first

"It's cold, there's a bit of wind and it's overcast. There'll be swing. There's a lovely green covering of grass, so there'll be seam as well. You'll have very good bounce here." Win toss and bowl?

Less than 10 minutes to go for the toss...Stay Tuned!!!

Dinesh Karthik from The Oval pings about the pitch visuals. Good news Indian fans, grass is being cut.

Hello and a warm welcome to everyone. It's time for the final of the World Test Championship 2021-2023. Two years of hard work, two years of grind and it all comes down to what it is ultimately about. The World Test Championship mace is at stake as two giants India and Australia go against each other. Golden generations of these two teams have probably one final chance to get their hands on the Test mace but only one team will get it. Ohh, this competition. So sit back in your comfort as I Varun Malik, along with my team will take you across these five days of make-or-break cricketing action.