WTC Final: ICC appoints umpires for India vs Australia Test at The Oval

The International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed the appointed match officials for the highly anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia.

The prestigious match, set to take place at The Oval in London from June 7th to 11th, will have Richard Illingworth of England and Chris Gaffaney from New Zealand as the on-field umpires.

The ICC's press release confirmed the selection of Illingworth and Gaffaney as the esteemed umpires for this monumental clash. Additionally, June 12th has been designated as a reserve day to compensate for any potential time lost during the scheduled five days of play.

Both umpires bring an impressive wealth of experience to the contest. Gaffaney, aged 48, will be officiating his 49th Test match, while Illingworth, aged 59, will be overseeing his 64th Test.

Notably, Illingworth had previously served as an umpire in the first WTC final two years ago, where New Zealand secured an emphatic eight-wicket victory over India in Southampton.

Richard Kettleborough, another distinguished English umpire, will also join the officiating team as the TV umpire, marking his second consecutive participation in a WTC final. The role of the fourth umpire will be fulfilled by Kumar Dharmasena from Sri Lanka, while Richie Richardson from the West Indies will serve as the match referee.

As for the teams involved, while India had previously competed in the inaugural edition of the WTC final, this will mark Australia's debut appearance in the summit clash of the Test championship. The clash between these two cricketing powerhouses is eagerly anticipated by fans worldwide, as they witness these talented sides vie for the prestigious title.

With Illingworth, Gaffaney, and the rest of the officiating team prepared to ensure fair play, cricket enthusiasts can eagerly anticipate an enthralling contest as India and Australia face off in the ultimate battle for WTC supremacy at The Oval.

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