New Delhi, 20 May: Former Australia captain Rickey Ponting feels that his country has some advantage over India in the World Test Championship final to be played at The Oval from June 7-11. 

The conditions in London will be giving the slight advantage to Pat Cummins & Co as compared to Rohit Sharma and his side. 

 "If you look at it just from a conditions point of view only, you would think that the conditions in England should suit Australia a little bit more, as the English conditions are definitely more like Australia than what they are in India, especially on what we've seen the last few times in Australia” opined Ponting at the official curtain raiser event of the WTC Final here this morning.

He said that a red kookaburra ball could be used in this title clash “"There's a neutral venue, there's also the choice of ball as well, which has been in the news the last few weeks. Will it be the dukes or kookaburra balls?  

“I think it sounds like both teams have decided that it's going to be the kookaburra ball. Even though you don't know how the kookaburra ball will be doing in that way." 

Ponting, who will be commentating on the WTC final felt that the clash between India's top order and Australia's pace attack could be a deciding factor in determining the winner.

"I think it'll be India's top order against Australia's fast bowling, we think about the battles between spinners and Australia's batters. But will that be negated by the wicket at The Oval?" 

“The wickets that I've played on The Oval have started as really good batting wickets, and actually have offered a little bit to the spinners as the game's going on.  

That's what I'd like to see in this wicket to have a really good contest on day four, day five, or maybe even day six, seeing how it will work out  As the match progress  we will see the battle between spinners and Australia's middle-order." 

Asked whether  IPL will impact Indian test team’s preparations, He replied "There are two ways to look at it. Virat is better off playing and scoring runs on a consistent basis and have confidence going into a game? The Australian bowlers back home haven't played much cricket. So, they will be immensely prepared with runs under their belt and there's both ways to look at it."
"Mohammed Shami will be better skill-wise than what Pat Cummins is as the latter hasn't played any cricket for a few months now. A lot of it comes down to the individual.  

Talking about Australian preparations, Pointing pointed out that  Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are in England and getting used to the conditions, giving themselves the best chance.

Michael Neser and Sean Abbott are also there in the extended squad for Australia, so they are playing there and bowling in case there's an injury to any of the fast bowlers.