WTC Final: 'Good luck for the batsmen...:' Shardul Thakur on Oval pitch after scoring 50 on day 3

India bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who played a gem of a knock of 51 runs on day 3 of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, has called the Oval pitch under-prepared. Shardul was one of the many batsmen who copped many a blow on the body while batting.

The all-rounder, who added 109 runs for the seventh wicket with Ajinkya Rahane, said the ball bounced from good length area and it is not easy for batsmen to adjust and leave balls from that area immediately.

"I think there is an area from where the ball is coming up, there is a little grass around the crack and the length is such that batsmen can't leave the deliveries easily. You have to play committedly because we saw today many balls kept down and I mean that is an area of good length, and I mean, that area is at a good length, a little short of length. So that's the area where the batsmen can't immediately see and leave the ball. You have to play it. And if it bounces from there – then good luck for the batsmen. It was bouncing from the other end too – but from a bit behind, so the batsmen were getting time to adjust, I think only Virat got the bounce from further on – but for all the rest, it bounced from behind," said Shardul after the end of play on day 3.

Notably, India bowler Mohammed Siraj had troubled Australia's Marnus Labuschagne on day 1 of the Test while India's Virat Kohli had gotten out to a ball which bounced more than expected.

Apart from Shardul, Ajinkya Rahane was also troubled with the uncharacteristic bounce of the Oval pitch. As for the match, Australia bowled India out for 296 in the first innings after scoring 469 in their first innings. Australia, by the end of play on day 3, had taken a lead of 296 runs, having scored 123/4 in their second innings.

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