World Test Championship: Can India beat New Zealand in the final?

Gulf News

The five-day final between teams led by Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson begins on Friday  Who are the world champions in Test cricket? Actually, there hasn’t been one. Officially. But in the recent past, Clive Lloyd’s West Indies and Steve Waugh’s Australia were considered invincibles. They won all the Test series and had enviable unbeaten streaks. But these sides were never crowned world champions.  See more videos at https://gulfnews.com/videos Read more Gulf News stories here: https://bit.ly/2HLJ2km  Subscribe to Gulf News on YouTube and watch more of our videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/GulfNewsTV  #UAEnews #WorldTestChampionship #cricket  Cricket; Virat Kohli; Kane Williamson; Rohit Sharma; Trent Boult; Jasprit Bumrah; Rishabh Pant

Transcript

00:00If you ask me this question, I'd probably say it's 50-50. At this stage, both the teams look good.

00:14Welcome to Straight Bad with Gulf News and Mr. Cricket UAE. That is Anil Sajan.

00:18We are here to discuss the World Test Cricket Championship which starts in Southampton tomorrow.

00:23That's on Friday. Obviously, we have to start with the question that

00:29who is going to win and I think that's a fair way to start. Aris, who do you think

00:36is a possible winner or will we have a winner at all? Hi, beautiful people. Great to be back

00:42once again on Straight Bad Show with all of you guys. We've really missed for a couple of months

00:47but as they say, what better way to start than the World Test Championship Finals

00:51and since you've asked straight the question, who's going to win? Well, if anybody can predict

00:56a test match win which is spot in five days and who says that this team is going to be a winner,

01:03he probably knows what's going to happen tomorrow. If you ask me this question,

01:08I'd probably say it's 50-50. At this stage, both the teams look good. The only advantage

01:14New Zealand have is that they've been in England and played two test matches.

01:19That's a slight edge but I will not count India out. Gautam, what do you think?

01:27I'd say that yes, it is 50-50 because nobody is going to discount New Zealand's chances

01:33especially after the May. They literally enjoyed the better part of domination in both the test

01:40matches, won the second one and then again have become our number one team. I think whatever

01:46happens the first session, I mean we don't have to be a pundit to say that but those first two

01:52hours on Friday are going to be very, very important to set the tone of the test.

01:58I agree very much with what Anirudh Swai said because predicting a test match is not like an

02:03ODI series or a T20 match because the variables are far too many here and especially in England

02:09where they say that through the day the conditions can change. But what is interesting here is the

02:16pitch because I was having a look at what the experts are saying is the edges bowl in South

02:24Hampton is not a pace-friendly wicket and it's a slightly spin-friendly wicket. But having said that

02:34you can't discount the conditions in England which always at any time of the day can help

02:40the first bowlers. So that brings us to the question, what do you think would be the composition

02:47of the team? Will they play spinners? Will they go in for a face-to-face attack? Anirudh, I would

02:53give you the first chance to answer that. Conditions make a big role in how the wicket

02:57or probably the bowlers come into play or the batsmen get a chance to bat. Now you asked me

03:02what sort of spot India is going to go probably. Definitely I see Ashwin and Jadeja in the fray

03:09for two reasons. One, not only they can bowl but they are useful all-rounders both with the bat

03:16as we saw in Australia and as well as in the series against England we saw Ashwin in fact

03:20scoring a hundred. So I see India picking both the spinners. When it comes to the pacers, this is where

03:28there is a little bit of a debate going on after Bhoomra and Shami. Will it be Ishan Sharma

03:35or will it be Siraj? So there's the debate because we saw the exuberance of Siraj in the Australian

03:41series and the rise of Siraj in the Australian series. But I cannot discount Ishan Sharma

03:46just because of his experience and playing in England and having played 100 test matches

03:52and more importantly because New Zealand has a few left-handers, he has got the better of

03:58left-handers. So I would go with Ishan Sharma instead of Siraj and when it comes to the batters,

04:03they pick themselves up whether it is Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill followed by Cheteshwar Pujara

04:10and we have the captain King Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and the dashing Rishabh Pant.

04:16So actually the batsmen, like you said, pick themselves up. There's no issues there.

04:21It is the bowling which is the bowling combination which could change.

04:28Having said that, Gautam, do you agree with Anish here? Because don't you think Siraj

04:33would be a handful in English country because he is all around, isn't it? Yes, see not only that,

04:43I mean, if you remember when they were having the press conference, pre-departure press

04:49conference, then Kohli had let the cat out of the bag by talking something about Siraj that

04:55he is going to unleash Siraj in Hindi to Shastri. Now, the way India have picked their squad,

05:03one thing I have liked is because it's the ICC event, you've got to name your squad and

05:08the priorities are quite clear. You will see that there is no K. N. Rahul there in the squad.

05:15They have kept Riddhiman Saha in the squad because of a like-for-like replacement situation if at all

05:20it comes. Otherwise, Rishabh is going to play. Now, if they play five bowlers, yes, I mean,

05:27it's Bumrah, Shami and I would possibly go with Ishan Sharma because this duke ball,

05:33as they are saying that it's got a tendency of doing a bit too much. So, experience counts.

05:39But I'm not sure that if they would like to play an extra batsman. I don't want to,

05:45you know, with due regards to Hanuma Bihari, I don't want to, you know, see him in this batting

05:51lineup just because he can bowl those few overs of off-spin. We should get our two genuine spinners

05:56and go for the three fast bowlers. And Ishan would be my choice over Siraj to answer your question.

06:05Okay. So, which means you both agree on the position. I can't disagree with you,

06:16but I would like to see Siraj's performance. Strictly speaking, like Anish Bhai said,

06:23he don't worry there if you're going to play two spinners. And given the nature of the pitch,

06:29India is quite likely to play with our two spinners because they can bat as well. They

06:32are good batsmen as well. And not just that, they are genuine spinners as well. But much as I would

06:39like to see Siraj bowl, I don't see a slot for him. As we've seen over the last few years, he's

06:50developed into a very good bowler and in fact, a very potent bowler. So, you can't see him being

06:55left out in favour of Siraj. So, I think all of us pretty much agree on the bowling composition

07:00there. Okay. Now, let's see whether we disagree on the New Zealand part because New Zealand also

07:04has only one spinner in the 15, which is Ajaz Patel, an Indian-born

07:14Ajaz Patel. But for an all-pace attack, because they could do, if they instead of,

07:20if they play Colin Granholm there, then maybe they go for an all-seam attack. But see,

07:26from what I can see here, they will definitely play Trent Bowell. Then they might definitely

07:31play Tim Southey. Because Goodall would need to be a handful in the match against England. So,

07:38those three pick them up. And then it is Wagner for Jennings. Wagner or J Kyle Jamieson, one of

07:45the two. So, it's a four-bowling attack. Or a fifth option. Will they go for Colin Granholm?

07:53Which means they fast-forward our option, which is quite unlikely.

07:59If Colin Granholm plays, then either Wagner or Jamieson have to sit out. So,

08:04what do you guys think? Will Ajaz play or will they go for an all-seam attack?

08:11Like Shyam, you mentioned, they are also spoilt for choices. They also have a terrific seam attack.

08:16When you talk about, led by Trent Bowell, Tim Southey, they have been the star for almost

08:22throughout the long time for New Zealand. And then Kyle Jamieson has been the star from the last year

08:29who's grown perfectly well. So, I don't see these three fast bowlers being left out. When it comes

08:34to Neil Wagner, he's the guy who toils hard like Ishan Sharma, who's the man, the go-to man in

08:40tough times. And the guy who can probably worry players like Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane with

08:47the short-pitch stuff. He has that awkward angle where he comes and bowls onto the ribs and keeps

08:53a backward short leg, as he had done and got rid of Stephen Smith, I remember, of Australia. So,

08:58I see him playing through. Now, just for variety, I don't think they will rule out Ajaz Patel.

09:05They will leave out the temptation of going with five seamers and play the all-rounder in

09:11Colin Digram and go for a spinner, left-arm spinner. That is why they are selected in the squad.

09:16So, they are looking pretty good with these five bowlers, including that spinner which I mentioned,

09:22Ajaz Patel. And when it comes to batting, of course, they start with their openers, the newcomer

09:28Devan Conway, who started, had a magical debut at Lords with a double-hundred, then an 80 in the

09:34second innings. Then Tom Latham, very handy left-hander batsman. Very, very capable. Followed

09:40by their star batsman, Williamson. And then, if I'm not wrong, they have Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls.

09:47That's… And plus, BJ Watling. He's a very, very handy batsman.

09:52Watling, yes. Yes. I mean, yeah, I would think you're pretty spot-on there because for variety,

10:01they need a spinner there because none of the batsmen can bowl a handy few overs. There's

10:10nobody who can do that. And I don't think Kenny Williamson would even risk it because given his

10:15injuries, I don't think he would even try. So, Gautam, any change in your thinking

10:21in terms of the spot for New Zealand? Yeah, I think Nisarbhan is pretty spot-on there.

10:27One advantage that New Zealand have is, they rely a lot on Colin Randall. I mean,

10:32though his test class, I always doubt, but that gives them the option of going for those,

10:39playing that extra batsman, going for those three fast bowlers and have Patel.

10:47Because he's a left-arm spinner, though they've kept out Sankar, who's a better spinner,

10:51I would reckon. And as Shyam, when he opened the conversation, he had thrown in an idea about

11:00what the Southampton wicket often behaves like. Last time India played a test match there,

11:05it was Moeen Ali who did the damage and not any English fast bowler. So, they will definitely

11:11play Patel. And I would reckon chances of Randall doing the fifth-bowler's job is more.

11:18I agree there, because like Anish said, in terms of sheer variety, they need a different

11:32attack in a spinner, because otherwise, you'll have all bowlers bowling pretty much the same

11:36thing. And Granholm is not an incisive bowler. But he could be useful in English conditions,

11:43because he's a guy who keeps what you call a nibbly-dobbly bowler. He would keep it on a

11:49length and heck, expect the conditions to help him to get wickets. But if all the other four

11:56bowlers can't get wickets, then how do you expect Granholm to take the wickets? Because they have

11:59the better arsenal. So, I pretty much agree with what both of you said. Azhar Patel will certainly

12:07play. Now, to me, we have been looking at both the attacks. To me, what will decide is how the

12:15batsmen will perform. Because bowling attacks, we know, both of them are good. Anish Bhai, how do

12:20we think the Indian batting will perform? Because traditionally, when we start, we tend to be

12:26pretty fragile, at least in the early part of the tour to England, when the moving ball comes. We

12:32get used to playing at home in the off-stamp. And also those flicks to mid-wicket from the

12:50middle-end off-stamp. And here you get plumbed at LBW, apart of the slips and things like that.

12:54So, will those bad habits come in? And are you worried about that?

12:59Well, yes. Spot on, Shyam. You have absolutely mentioned. I remember when the Indian team were

13:03departing, both Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli had hinted that they wanted to have a best-of-three

13:08final. Because they know India are poor starters whenever they go abroad. Whether it was the last

13:12series in Australia, where we were bowled out for 36 at Adelaide. Or whether it was in England last

13:18year, where we went on to win the at-best-of test, in spite of dominating the whole test match.

13:23But they have only one chance. And mind you, New Zealand has been India's nemesis whenever it

13:29comes to ICC titles. Last time, round in the 2019 semi-final, that dreadful day, I still can never

13:36forget. We were like… It was a walk in the park, we might say, that we were playing New Zealand,

13:40when the moment it was announced that India are not playing England. And then they just upset us.

13:45And going back also, I can't remember India beating them except in the 2003 World Cup.

13:51They had the better of us. Now, as you mentioned about the batting, yes, India will have to be

13:56watchful. The guys like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, even Virat Kohli. Because initially when

14:03he starts, he's a bit shaky and his off-stump will be tested. And New Zealand bowlers will

14:08test him by bowling in that right channel, so that they go for that shots and probably nick it.

14:14So if Indian batsmen, especially Rohit Sharma, can probably, as Mr Gautam said,

14:18the first couple of hours will decide. If we are put into bat, if we can see off that new ball,

14:24can make the New Zealand bowlers toil, then India should be in the reckoning.

14:29Having said that, it's going to be a test of India's batsmen against New Zealanders' bowlers.

14:36Gautam, you said that the first hour is important. I also emphasised that opening

14:42partnership would be very, very crucial to India's fortunes. But having said that,

14:47do you think that we had the best of preparations? Indian batsmen came off the IPL straight away,

14:53which is a 2020 tournament, and hardly had any warm-up matches. They all played only between

14:58themselves and the quarantine didn't help either. So, was it an ideal preparation or did the BCCI

15:04get anything wrong here? It wasn't the ideal preparation. But there was very little that

15:11the BCCI could have done. Because if the IPL had run its distance, it would have finished on

15:18May 30. And then this team, as scheduled, they travelled on June 2. So, the number of

15:26experts that I had an opportunity to speak to, they feel that, yes, it's not the right

15:30kind of preparation. But they also feel that most of these players, they have played

15:37there. They're no strangers to the English conditions. They've either played for India

15:42or for India A. But that is something and match practice is something else. There can be no

15:49compromise on that. So, looking at it that way, I think it's quite a big test of character for

15:56Rohit Sharma. The white ball giant that he is, the last time he was there in England, he had

16:02five centuries, but that was the white ball cricket. So, it's going to be really,

16:08he has to guide the opening partnership. And he will set the tone in this, not only this one,

16:15but six test matches. So, it's a bit of a wet and watch. And that's the advantage the

16:21Netherlands do with what Conway and Young did. I mean, a bit of familiarity,

16:28if that brings any advantage, that will certainly rest with the New Zealand openers.

16:35And as you said earlier, you mentioned that New Zealand had the best preparation,

16:39they played two matches there, they acclimatized well.

16:42You think that would be a deciding factor in this test?

16:47To some extent, yes, Shyam. But you know what, on paper, when you look at both the sides,

16:54probably India has a little bit of, as you say, that savour or as they say, the swag,

17:03because of the experience what Indian players had. When you talk about King Kohli, okay,

17:08you can compare him, his opposite part is Williamson. But when you talk about Rohit

17:12Sharma, you're talking about comparing him with Tom Latham or Devin Conway, who just made his

17:18debut. Okay, he scored a brilliant double hundred. But on paper, when you compare both the sides,

17:23whether it is the Pujaras or whether it is the Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant, mind you,

17:28the way he has come of age in the last one year, on paper, our batting order looks stronger.

17:34It's just whether India can hold back the drives in the initial phase of the game,

17:39like we discussed just a few minutes ago. Can they be very circumspect to the moving ball

17:45and give themselves time and play the waiting game rather than playing the attacking game,

17:52like generally the Virendra Sehwag or the girls? Especially, I'm worried about the young lad,

17:56Shubman Gill, because I've seen against England in the last series, he was getting set and throwing

18:00his wicket away. So if these guys can play according to the situation, when I say according

18:06to the situation, because the duke ball keeps swinging throughout the day. So even if you're

18:10set, you make one mistake and you nick it. So there is where the catch comes. So again,

18:17just to answer your question, I would still back the Indian batsmen, probably on paper,

18:22and our spinners to probably be better than the English spinners who bowled against them

18:27and get the better of them. Especially Ashwin might have the better of the left-handers.

18:34One point, Shyam, I would like to mention here is, in fact, this has been quite spot on there.

18:39I mean, we are talking about the top order, but this is the Indian team where, you know,

18:44over the period of last one year or so, every now and then, you had a different guy putting

18:52his hand up. So you do not know. I mean, if it's somewhere, if it is 90 for three,

18:59you never know your number five, number six, number seven and having Rishabh there.

19:03And then having Ashwin and Jadeja. This makes a lot of difference. If you can

19:10show some character and score 300, 325 runs on the board,

19:16then it becomes a much more interesting test match.

19:22I will tell you on that because I will use what was said earlier that in terms of preparation,

19:30New Zealand has had a far better preparation than India. Not just that, the conditions in New

19:38Zealand, the domestic conditions they have, the way they play their domestic cricket is very

19:42similar to England. It is biting cold, when chilly winds are there and the ball moves around.

19:50Somebody like even Colin Granholm can be a difficult customer there. So

19:58in terms of conditions, I think our New Zealand batsmen and bowlers are more at

20:02home than Indians. Would that be a decisive factor here?

20:06Yes, Shyam, you're right that the conditions what they get in New Zealand is quite similar to what

20:13they've got in England. And that's why they could easily acclimatize and played out guys like

20:17Anderson and Stuart Bord. And it's like out of the 10 days of test match, they dominated probably

20:23eight days against England. So that is where I wanted to stress on the point that England spinners

20:29did not have that edge what Ashwin and Jadeja might probably able to pull out of the bank.

20:34And don't forget, Bumrah is still a handful of a bowler to anybody. And my only problem,

20:42if I had a doubt about Indian bowling is about Mohamad Shami because he's one of that bowlers,

20:48sometimes he goes to sleep, I'm afraid to say, you need to wake him up. Because if he comes and

20:53bowls that proper seam, which is known for to use a seam and his right length, that's my only

20:59problem. Because Ishan Sharma will be always slogging around and bowling in the right channel.

21:04Bumrah, you should be expected to bowl well, the spinners should do well. So if Shami is on song,

21:08India will definitely have the upper hand, not only with the bat, but also with the ball.

21:15Do you agree, both of you? I'm not sure about that point which I mentioned about Mohamad Shami.

21:21Yeah, we've seen that time and again. Like you said, he's completely out of

21:26sorts sometimes and suddenly comes back and take a couple of wickets. It's quite unpredictable.

21:31Gautam, what do you think? We've seen that time and again, isn't it?

21:34Yes, I think the more we discuss about it, we see a case for Shiraj possibly.

21:40Because we won't be going by reputation. Both Shami and Ishan have this capability of getting

21:47a kind of reverse swing if that is required. And you've got spinners bowling a decent quarter of

21:53overs in Ashwin and Jadeja. So both these two guys can do it. So if you have one of the senior

22:00bowlers and if you have Bumrah and Shiraj, it may not be a bad idea that way. But at the end of the

22:06day, experience counts. When the ball is new, then Shami's seam position has been talked about a lot.

22:16And he can really make the ball talk at that point of time.

22:20I'm glad you guys are coming around to my point. I would actually like to see Shiraj there.

22:26He is a good swing bowler. He's a good swing bowler and he's proved to be one in Australia

22:33and in India. He can get the best of batsmen. I would like to see Kohli take a gamble on him.

22:44But the thing is, World Test Championship is a one-test match. So will he be brave enough to

22:48take that gamble? That is my only worry. Otherwise, I would trump for Shiraj ahead of Shami.

22:57No, they will. Because Shami, this Kohli-Shastri combination, they have done a lot of

23:04beyond, I mean, out-of-the-box things during their tenure. Some have played, some haven't.

23:10But this is something which will be a risk worth taking, I think. Because Shiraj is that kind of a,

23:17you know, he's a rhythm bowler who suddenly before the lunch, he must have taken through two wickets

23:24or three wickets and changed the complexion of the game. If that happens, from there,

23:28New Zealand will find it difficult to bounce back. Okay, that brings us back to Kohli,

23:36the batsman. Kohli, the batsman is very integral to India's fortunes. We know Kohli had struggled

23:42in the past. It is 2014, if I remember right. And if he came back a couple of years later,

23:47and he had an excellent series topping the Indian aggregates. And I think he's got at

23:53least a couple of centuries and a very decent average too. So do you expect him to continue

23:59that rich span of form? Or will he be able to get back to the

24:0611-footed ways against the moving ball?

24:10I'm glad you asked this question, Sam. You know, we've been all talking about the other players

24:14around. But Kohli's form, when you say form in the form of runs, you see the last 100 he scored

24:21was against Bangladesh in 2019, October or November, if I'm not wrong. It was in the day-night

24:27test match. And after that, Kohli has not scored a single 100. Forget the white ball where he was

24:34consistent, but even a lot of test matches which India played. After that, India went to New

24:40Zealand, where he couldn't score. In Australia, he had a one test. Then against England, he had

24:45four test matches. So the 50s and 60s have been there. But the daddy hundreds have been missing

24:50like it did in 2018 against England. So he is going to be a vital cog. And he was spot on,

24:57if India has to get past New Zealand, he has to score a daddy 100. Because the likes of Ajinkya

25:05Rahane also has had only 100 that too in Melbourne. So we cannot be wholly and solely depending on

25:11Pujaras and Rohit Sharma. And Virat Kohli, as they call him as the King Kohli, has to score runs.

25:18And what better way than to score in a World Cup final, I would call it as a World Cup, because

25:22it is the World Test Championship final. And to prove to his critics that no, I am the boss,

25:29I'm here as the leader, and I will lead from the front.

25:33Gautam, I would reverse the question for you. Let's say Kohli fails in this match,

25:39will the rest of the Indian batsmen have the strength to pull themselves out of the rut?

25:45Why not? I mean, Kohli, one thing, let me just say that, yes, that century came. In fact,

25:54it came in Calcutta against Bangladesh. But he hasn't been batting badly. But in the test match,

26:01what he should be, I think either of you spoke about it, in the test match, he should be more

26:06certain about the weather of Stampede. I mean, it may sound like a temerity for us to say that.

26:11But, you know, he often has this tendency of, you know, just shaping it, shaping the shot

26:18towards the mid-wicket and gets caught. So that's the thing he has to be watchful about,

26:26is this kind of a quality seam and swing attack. And you never know. I mean, that's where,

26:34a very good example is the way the Australia series went. So if Kohli fails, there is no

26:41reason to write this team off. And now that again, you talk about Kohli failing,

26:47or, you know, two or three quick wickets going, then I see a case for Hanuman Bihari.

26:53But, you know, we can go on arguing till the cows come home.

26:58Gautam, you don't have that liberty of bringing Hanuman Bihari because in your team,

27:05Hanuman Bihari doesn't have a place. So that card is out. So you don't get any pass there.

27:14So, no, see, there is no reason why, I mean, that is why you need a good start to start with.

27:20I mean, if you lose, you know, early wickets, either way, the pressure becomes too much.

27:28So, the opening battles, a lot rests on them. And then, if Kohli fails, I mean,

27:36India have pulled up, they have pulled themselves out of the rut with a lower order showing

27:40character. Now, there again, we don't know what conditions it's going to be like, you know, in

27:46Australia and England, the conditions have been a bit like chopping cheese. So, that is why this

27:54contest has become so intriguing. You know, we cannot, and to start with, where we, you know,

28:02we had said that it's a 50-50 thing and Alex said that. So, we'd have to again go back there

28:07and see how it pans out, at least on the first day.

28:12Okay, having said that, let's look at New Zealand. New Zealand, we know, Kane Williamson has been

28:18always the bulwark or the kingpin or the linchpin of the New Zealand batting. Every time New Zealand

28:23scores, their fortunes depend on how Kane Williamson performs. But the last test match

28:28against England which they won, they won it without Williamson. At least, how do you think

28:36the New Zealand batsmen will shape up against Indian bowlers? I would again come on to that

28:42point about Indian spinners versus New Zealand batsmen. You see, the guys like Devin Conway,

28:49even Kane Williamson has struggled against Ravindra Jadeja. Even Ross Taylor has struggled

28:54against Ravindra Jadeja. And we agree that the spin will not come into play on the first day.

28:59But who knows, with Ashwin getting rid of the left-handers, you get the batsmen early. And Kane

29:04Williamson's record for a change, out of all the runs he scored around the world, his record in

29:09England has been the poorest with an average of 30-33, if I'm not wrong. And in the first test

29:14against England also, he had failed in both the innings. And the second test, he took a break.

29:19So that is one thing which India can take into account. And when you send the captain back into

29:24the dressing room, there might be some panic in the New Zealand camp. I pretty much agree there

29:33on the Williamson part of it. But Gautam, to come to you. But Williamson's absence has

29:42you have Devon Conway stepping up, and so has the other batsmen down the order. And remember,

29:46we have Wattling back in the team. So how do you see them performing against the Indians?

29:51Especially the spinners, like Anish said. I mean, see, the difference, that is, the spinners is the

29:57key difference here. The difference between an Indian attack and an England attack, which they

30:03defeated, the crucial difference is the spinners. And India has perhaps two of the best spinners in

30:08the world. So how do you expect, how do you see the New Zealand batsmen shape up against them?

30:14I think Anish Bhai had given a fair inkling about the way, I mean, with that many left-handers in

30:21the New Zealand batting lineup, Ashwin can play a crucial role there. And Jadeja can be as nagging

30:29as they come. So the middle order of New Zealand, you know, the spine of New Zealand batting,

30:37had been overly reliant on Ken Williamson and Ross Taylor. But what has now happened,

30:43the Oprahs have done well, at least in the first test match. And Latham, you know, being a kind

30:51of an underrated guy, but say that he is what Pujara is to the Indian team. And then you've

30:57got Wattling, who had a double century against England in the most challenging of circumstances.

31:05So they also come out of the oomba. But how will they tackle the spin? That's, I think,

31:12is going to make a difference. Yes, absolutely. Guys, I think we must have covered pretty much

31:17everything here. Any final thoughts, Anish? Well, the final thoughts is that India has to

31:23get the monkey off the back. New Zealand, their nemesis has to be beaten. And it has to be in

31:30this World Test Championship finals. And India and Virat Kohli needs a trophy in their cabinet,

31:35and no better big trophy than the World Test Championship. Gautam, any final thoughts from you?

31:43Yeah, I think, see, I would still say it is a bit of a 50-50 situation with,

31:48I would, despite the lack of preparation time, I would keep the age

31:53with India, because of the number of interesting options that they have,

31:57the kind of battle-hardened side that they have become the last two years. Only thing is,

32:04you should get proper action and rain shouldn't intervene, you know, in these

32:10five days, because if two days are gone due to rains, then you're going to have

32:14a joint winners. And that's the last thing you'd bargain for in a one-off WTC.

32:20But there's an extra day, they have kept a spare day.

32:23Yes, extra day. That's why Gautam said if it rained for two days,

32:28one day means only you get an extra day.

32:29No, I actually didn't bargain for the extra day. They've kept 23rd as extra day.

32:33Yeah, one extra day there. To me, it depends on which team bats better,

32:40they will win. Because the bowling, I can see both are evenly matched there.

32:44Maybe India might have an edge in terms of the spin variety. But I don't know how much of

32:49spin edge we would have in England. But I'm pretty sure that whoever bats first,

32:56especially the first innings, the scores would decide the destiny of the

33:01first World Test Championship. More importantly, this is far too important in the sense,

33:11this is the first World Test Championship and people are going to remember forever.

33:15So which is why I would want India to win here. But in terms of sheer cricketing logic,

33:23from my cricketing logic, I see New Zealand has a 10% edge. I would say 60-40 simply because

33:29they have acclimatized better and these are familiar conditions for them.

33:34And so which is why I gave them a 10% edge. But having said that, I hope the best team wins.

33:41So the test match starts on the 18th. So in the next five days, we will find the first winners of

33:48the World Test Championship. Thank you very much, Anishbhai. Thank you very much, Gautam.

33:54All you viewers, please log in to gulfnews.com for all the latest cricket updates.

34:01And follow our Facebook page as well as Instagram for latest news and updates, please.

34:07Thank you very much. Good night. Thank you, Shyam. Thank you, Mr. Gautam.

34:11Thank you very much. Great chats and great to be connecting again.

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