New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl against India on the second day of the ICC World Test Championship final after the first day was washed out due to rain.
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New Zealand have won the toss and chose to bowl against India on the second day of the ICC World Test Championship final in Southampton. The first day of the match was washed out due to incessant rain. The forecast for today is slightly better although showers are predicted later in the day. Sunday is also a good day but Monday will see some more rain. There is a reserve day in store and in case the authorities deem that a result is possible, then the ICC World Test Championship final might be played even on June 23.
Virat Kohli’s Indian cricket team had already announced the playing 11 a day before the ICC World Test Championship final. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin will be the two spinners. Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah are the pacers for India. New Zealand, on the other hand, left out Ajaz Patel and included Colin de Grandhomme. The Kiwis thus have five pacers in the team, in addition to Kyle Jamieson, Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner.
Virat Kohli has become the first captain to head India in a neutral Test in their history. This was the 61st Test that Kohli is the captain, breaking the previous record of 60 by MS Dhoni. Kane Williamson, the New Zealand skipper, said that he hoped to make early inroads with the new ball.
“Conditions, with the weather around, hopefully we can make the most of it. Saying that, wicket will be consistent throughout the game going by the cool weather. Have gone for four frontline seamers. No spinner. Great occasion and great challenge against the best team in the world. First time a WTC final, guys are really excited. A big player for us and a real leader within our group (Watling). Great occasion for him playing his last game. Great to be in this position. Two years trying to qualify – for us, we’re fortunate to be here,” Williamson said.
Kohli, on the other hand, said that he too would have bowled first. “Runs on the board has been our strength. In a big final, runs on the board, however many, are an advantage. As you saw the makeup of our side, the balance is such that we prepare for any conditions. We’ve been performing really well in Test cricket. For us this is just a Test match we have to be professional in, have to follow our processes,” Kohli said.
The pitch and overhead conditions will make bowling a prime asset on this wicket. One hopes that India can put the runs on the board and bat New Zealand out of the contest.
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah
New Zealand (Playing XI): Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling(w), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Neil Wagner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult
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