India and New Zealand will square off in the final of the ICC World Test Championship in Southampton but rain threatens to play spoilsport.
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After two years of intensity, it all boils down to this. The ICC World Test Championship, that was created to bring relevancy to every series that was played, will culminate in the final at Southampton. The first cycle has had plenty of logistical issues as it coincided with the coronavirus pandemic. The benchmarks had to be changed. Some teams dominated, others had a slip-up. The Indian cricket team under Virat Kohli showed why they are the No.1 side in the world. Out of the six series that they played, they won five of them. However, that one loss came against their opponents in the final.
New Zealand established its dominance at home but away, they were poor. They drew against Sri Lanka and were hammered 0-3 by Australia. The other series against Bangladesh was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. New Zealand only qualified for the final because Australia was docked four points for a slow over-rate in Melbourne. Had that not happened, the ICC World Test Championship final would have featured India and Australia.
The battle royale would have reached fever pitch had India played Australia, England or Pakistan. But, the build-up has been low-key on two fronts. One, the British press is not lapping it up as much as it should be because of England’s absence. The venue has also made it a tricky point. A final at Southampton is not so appealing as a final at Lord’s. But, due to the coronavirus situation, it has had to be played at this venue.
3000 fans will be allowed to see two teams who are evenly matched on paper. The selection of the final 11 from the initial squad of 15 will be a tough headache for both India and New Zealand. Both sides have tremendous depth in both the batting and the bowling. India’s batting has a definitive edge due to Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant. All five are match-winners in their own way.
It is in the bowling where the Indian cricket team will have to figure out the right composition. Jasprit Bumrah is the only certainty. But, looking at the squad of 15, India has given a hint that they will want to play both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. There are two advantages to this. One, the batting has buffer until number eight. Second, both bowlers can exploit the technical weakness of New Zealand batsmen. India will want to play according to their strengths. The choice of the pacers will also be interesting, with Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Ishant Sharma all vying to partner Bumrah or be first change.
Kohli has expressed his desire for Siraj to be in the team. Shami has not played much since getting his arm fractured in Adelaide. With Siraj impressing and with Ishant’s great record in England against New Zealand, India might want Ishant and Siraj to partner Bumrah in the ICC World Test Championship final.
New Zealand also have the same selection headache as India. But, the squad selection has more or less decided what their playing 11 will be. Kyle Jamison, Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner will be the key for the Kiwis. But, will they play Ajaz Patel in the line-up? It must be understood that playing Patel might dent their batting slightly. With Colin de Grandhomme, the batting gets a boost and also they have a fifth bowling option.
In the series in February 2020, New Zealand won both Tests as they played all their pacers. India could not cope with the Wellington and Christchurch decks getting plenty of movement and they lost in three days by big margins. If de Grandhomme is selected, then New Zealand have batting till No.8.
There has been a feverish search for how the weather in Southampton will be from June 18 to 23. The bad news is that Southampton will be hit by rain on all five days at varying intervals. The first day will be heavily impacted by rain and so will be the third or fourth day. There is a big chance for huge passages of play on the second day. If there is a scope for a result, then they may extend into the reserve day.
It will be incredibly disappointing for both fans. Prior to the match, Southampton has been under a heat wave for a good fortnight. But, all that might catch up on Friday. The dry conditions heading into the match might probably influence the pitch that will be used.
Southampton has assisted pacers who exploit the deck a lot more than the air. But, from days three to five, the pitch will crumble and that might make the spinners important. In the past, Moeen Ali hurt India with five-wicket hauls in both 2014 and 2018. Looking at the pitch, a spinner will decide the outcome if the team bats last. One can only hope that rain does not wash out huge sessions. In case the match ends in a draw, the teams will share the trophy.
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj/Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult
New Zealand has never lost to India in any format in England. Out of five ODIs, they have won four with one game being abandoned. In 2009, New Zealand and India played a Twenty20 warm-up game at Lord’s and India lost even that.
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