Anis Sajan talks to Gulf News team about India squad selection for England trip ahead of WTC final against New Zealand
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NewsTranscript
00:00The squad to me looks to be a balanced side but the only thing which I feel is missing
00:06there is the opening pair I'm not so convinced.
00:19Hi guys and welcome once again to Straight Back with Mr Cricket UAE and Golf News.
00:24We're here once again with the mighty Anish Sajjan and also with Shyam Krishna from Golf News.
00:29I'm Matt Smith and we're here today to talk about the India squad that's going to be heading to
00:34England shortly for the World Test Championship against New Zealand. Now there's a few curveballs
00:39in that team but first of all let's go and say hi to Anish. Thank you Matt. Hi Shyam. Welcome to the
00:45beautiful people of Golf News community. So what if the IPL is called off but Golf News is there
00:50to update you about what's happening in the world of cricket and nothing bigger than the World Test
00:55Championship final. We will be talking about the squad but before that good news for all the fans
01:02of Golf News. Like always we will be giving three months of subscription of Golf News. We'll be
01:07having some contests running for that Test Championship final as well as beautiful jacket
01:13and also a Mr Cricket cap. Over to you Matt. Cool well that's something that's worth getting. I've
01:19already got mine so I can't enter sadly but I'll well basically I'm obviously over the past
01:25day or so we've seen the developments of the traveling squad that's going to be coming from
01:32India to head over to England. I think it's Southampton for the final. Is that correct?
01:38Now obviously there's a lot of true familiar names in there but there's a few guys that
01:45have made a return in the shape of like Jadeja, Shami, Vihari. Let's go to those guys first
01:52and we'll see have they earned a place back in the squad? Oh yes Matt to be very honest it's a
01:58very solid squad India has picked up. Obviously because of the COVID they had to pick up a larger
02:03squad. Initial days it used to be 15 but this time they have taken 20 plus four extras. The squad to
02:09me looks to be a balanced side but the only thing which I feel is missing there is the opening pair
02:17I'm not so convinced but I'm sure Sham can throw some light on it. Actually I'm okay with the squad
02:24because Rohit and Gill are very very compact players, good technique there and then we have
02:32Mayank Agarwal as well as KL Rahul there. So I'm okay with it. What you need to bear in mind
02:39is these are English conditions. The ball tends to seem around and swing a bit so
02:43there will be a searching examination of technique and remember this is a five-day
02:49test match so they have all the time in the world. They can keep bowling on the
02:52on the corridor and keep waiting for the batsman to make mistakes so
02:58it is a test of temperament and technique so I think Gill and Rohit has to be able to tie it all.
03:05Okay and Anis, obviously there's no there's no Bhuvi and no Pandya in the squad.
03:10Is that a brave decision or is that just the right decision?
03:17When it comes to Pandya, probably they took a practical decision because he was not bowling
03:22during the IPL also. In fact, he did not bowl a single over in the IPL. Am I right, Sham?
03:27Absolutely, he didn't bowl in the IPL at all. So if they had to carry Pandya, he had to bowl
03:32some overs and maybe they feel he's still not match fit to bowl for a test match. That's why
03:36they have not picked Pandya. But when it comes to Bhuvi, I believe he was also injured during the
03:41last series when India had gone in 2018 and India dearly missed him. When it comes to swinging
03:46conditions in England, like Sham mentioned, there's going to be swing and seam. Bhuvi's experience
03:51will be definitely missed but the management probably is not having the confidence in his
03:56fitness. Okay and obviously the New Zealand guys got back today. Trent Bolt gave a big
04:04nice message of love over to the guys in India and the gratitude of the way they were looked after.
04:10With the recent series against Australia and England, do India with their tails up having
04:18come back from very early setbacks in this series have a slight advantage over New Zealand or is
04:25there something that New Zealand have in store? Honestly, Matt, you know these are swinging
04:31conditions. Maybe not as similar as New Zealand but New Zealand probably have the edge for two
04:37reasons. One, they go to England well in advance and prepare by playing two test matches against
04:44England. So there is where they have an extra advantage. Currently, their seam attack which
04:49boasts of Trent Bolt, Saudi, Kyle Jemison and there's the left-armer Sham whom am I missing?
04:58That fast bowler who's got that knack of picking wickets and an aggressive fast bowler.
05:02I'm not able to recollect that name. And also, they have Grant De Holm. In short, New Zealand
05:10bowling attack is well-equipped. And as I said, the biggest advantage is that they go
05:17and play two test matches with the host England. Maybe Sham can add on to it.
05:21Yeah, I guess so. Also for New Zealand, the conditions are a bit similar to back home for
05:28them. They are pretty much used to swing and seam in their home pitches here. So they might be at
05:36home in England. So they have that added advantage. So I completely agree with Anish that
05:44although India may be in terms of mindset, India must be buoyant. But in terms of
05:55conditions, I think New Zealand has the edge there. The bowler was Neil Wagner.
06:03Okay, I get it. Okay. In terms of the competition itself, this is obviously the first time we've
06:12ever been in a position that we've held this. And I personally think they've done quite well
06:16to actually get to the stage given the setbacks that they've had over the past two years. And
06:21obviously, there's been rule changes and points changes and things. How do we think that this
06:30competition as it will be as an entity will go forward? I'm glad you asked me this question,
06:37Matt. And I'm sure Sham also would like to add some points. This is the first time
06:41a World Test Championship sort of a thing has been played. And both the teams who have made it
06:46to the finals have deservedly made it. They beat New Zealand, who came back after a
06:50disappointment against Australia. Even though they won all their matches in their home country,
06:56so did India where they beat Australia, which was a difficult one. And then they came back from
07:00behind to beat England. And a World Test Championship, which Sham always says that
07:05Test cricket is the highest level of cricket. And anyone winning this championship, it's like
07:10winning a World Cup. And I remember a couple of players did mention that this is something they
07:14would like to have in their kitty. And more importantly for India, because they haven't had
07:19a lot to India kitty after the 2013 Champions Trophy, which was also a white ball.
07:24India will be much more eager and so will be New Zealand, Sham.
07:29Absolutely. You're spot on there. Because not just that, the added attraction here is
07:35it's the first one. And this is something which everybody will remember. And that will go down
07:40in history as the inaugural one. So that is a huge bonus for them, which means both the
07:47teams will be giving off their best. Okay. And then obviously we've had the IPL in between.
07:55How do people like Kohli and the rest of the guys get their mindset given this cancellation of this
08:02three weeks before the travel out to England to switch back into Test mode, Anas?
08:09Well, these are all professional cricketers. Irrespective of the IPL being called off,
08:14unfortunately, due to the COVID crisis, the players have been used to playing different
08:17formats when they go for overseas tours, that they play first either the ODI or the white ball
08:22format, and then they switch to Test or from Test to White. So they are used to this. And the only,
08:28I would say, a blessing in disguise for probably both the teams and especially India
08:32is that they get that enough break. They get that rest. They are going to regroup in India
08:38from the 25th, where they will be in a quarantine for 10 days. Then they will go to England on June
08:452, where they can start practicing from June 2. And they are taking that permission from the
08:50England board and the England country that they can immediately start. They will be in a quarantine
08:55in England too. But after staying in that 10-day bubble, they move to another bubble where they can
08:59start practicing. So they will try and get acclimatized to the conditions. Shyam?
09:06I pretty much agree with the fact that this is a blessing in disguise. Yes. Because
09:11otherwise, it's just going to be, you know, it's almost like back to back for the Indian cricketers
09:17and the youngsters will be part of the IPL. So I think the break in the IPL is certainly a blessing
09:23in disguise. And I'm sure that will be reflected in the performances as well.
09:29Absolutely. And obviously, the other thing is, we mentioned about the travel.
09:35England have obviously, they want to make sure that these things go ahead,
09:38obviously, with the New Zealand series and the India series coming up after the WTC.
09:45That they seem to be very accommodating as they did within the first in the first
09:50tests that they held, I think, after the coronavirus last year, they were in Southampton,
09:56Old Trafford, that they were the ones that showed the biobubble can work. If you've got the hotel
10:04at the ground, and everyone's in the same environment, and they will be in the same
10:08sort of environment. Yes, England was the first country who started cricket. And to start test
10:14cricket in a biobubble. They did a great job. They had a series with West Indies. They had
10:19a series with Pakistan, and they pulled it off very, very well. And I don't see any reason because
10:24the way England has come back well, fighting the virus, and things seem to be normal. And I won't
10:29be surprised, even if they allow crowds in the series between India and England. Because,
10:36you know, good part about having a series in England is that you have crowds from both
10:41nations. Like suppose, if you have an India-England series, or you have an India-New
10:45Zealand. People from both centres come and support. Okay, India will definitely have more
10:50fan following. But the advantage of holding a World Cup or a series in England is that you get
10:56people from all cultures. And that's the plus point England has to give credit for. Right, Shyam?
11:02Absolutely. And I think there might be at least 30% of crowd we might be allowed in. Because
11:09in England, the COVID situation is pretty much under control. And if you look back
11:15some of the premiership matches earlier, they had 30% crowd or a percent of crowd depending on
11:26which tier it was involved. So I wouldn't be surprised if they allow at least a certain
11:32percentage of the first spectators. And actually, spectators, to me, there can't be sport without
11:38spectators. I mean, sport is a spectacle. So it says spectators are essentially a part of the
11:46sport itself. So a sport without spectators, it is like you're taking away the essence of sport.
11:53So I mean, I would welcome spectators back for these matches. And it would only be fitting.
12:01Yeah, you're right. You know what, England is one place where test cricket is followed with
12:05heart and soul. Where in other countries, test cricket is still taken as a boring format. But
12:10when it comes to England, you will see everybody there and it's a packed house. Right, Shyam?
12:16That's true. Partly another reason for that is the smaller grounds also. So there's a lot of
12:21intimacy there. Intimacy as in, you know, the guy sitting in the front is pretty much on the
12:27boundary line, really. So there's a connect there. Which is why if you see the matches
12:34in where India and West Indies or Pakistan plays, you can see always the crowd rushing into the
12:39ground, which is not possible elsewhere. Maybe the exception of New Zealand, maybe.
12:48Yeah, I agree. I mean, like when I watch it on TV, you know, you see like the water boy or even
12:54the guys on the boundary, you see a camaraderie with the crowd, there's chats, there's selfies
13:00almost and things like that go on as well when they're not actually involved in it. Yeah, it's
13:04in the true spirit. And obviously, England is very traditional towards the red ball game as well.
13:13That's kind of what makes it the home of cricket, you know, like Lords, as they say.
13:18But the one other thing is like, with this game against New Zealand, just being a one-off test
13:24and India having had, let's say, questionable starts in the last two series against Australia
13:31and especially England, how do they go about getting in there right at the top of the,
13:37you know, a flying start? Well, it's going to be a test of character for Indian players.
13:43Matt and Shaman, I'm sure, you know, like Virat Kohli still doesn't have anything in his kitty
13:48under-19 World Cup of 50 overs. So, he would definitely want, like to have that. At the same
13:54time, Kane Williamson came very close in the 19 World Cup, but they lost in the Super Over. So,
14:00a lot at stake, especially for India, because as I said, Virat doesn't have anything in the kitty.
14:06And he is one guy who inspires India to play test cricket the hardest way. And he is going to be a
14:12vital cog for India, probably winning or not winning this test championship final.
14:17And I think you missed out, I think Kohli was part of the side which won the 2013 World Cup,
14:24isn't it? No, no. That was the, you're talking about as a captain, he has not won. Champion's
14:31trophy. Oh, okay. All right. Yeah. Yeah. Dhoni was a captain there. Yes. Yeah.
14:36I'm nodding like I know I'm going, yeah, okay.
14:39Obviously, the other thing that we talked about earlier was
14:49New Zealand have this advantage of getting up to speed beforehand.
14:55And India will be coming in straight into this one-off final. Does that play into New Zealand's
15:01hand as well? I believe so, because as you mentioned, switching from one format to another,
15:09it takes time. And the advantage New Zealand will have that they would have already played
15:13two test matches with almost their full squad bearing Trent Boult. So, they would have got used
15:18to the conditions. And as Sham always mentioned, and I also agree and endorse, that test cricket
15:24is the test of the temperament of a player where you need a lot of resolve, you need a lot of
15:29patience, and you are tested heavily throughout the five days. So, that thing New Zealand already
15:35has. And secondly, they have had the wood over India in the last series when they played India.
15:41So, if you had to ask me, I would probably give New Zealand as a 60-40% favorites for this series,
15:48Sham. Same here, 60-40%. Because what you said is a very, very important point here. Because
15:57when you play two test matches, your whole mindset has changed. You are adapted to the format.
16:02And you know how the conditions behave. And you can make the necessary adjustments.
16:07Whereas India going straight into it. So, they could be caught unawares. Or
16:12to use the expression, they could even be like rabbits caught in the headlight. Because
16:18the T20 habits, they might unwittingly bring into the test matches.
16:23Or the cold weather of Europe.
16:27You want to see cold weather play a test match in Scotland?
16:33I guess the flip side of that is with the extra 10 days that they'll have to play beforehand,
16:39they may pick up injuries. So, you know, you never know a broken finger.
16:46That you're asking for too much magic.
16:50No, just that you look at Rajasthan Royals, they feel like flies, you know. So, you never know.
16:56That's why they're getting 20-25 people. So that if somebody is having an issue,
17:00they have a replacement.
17:01Absolutely. Well, yeah, I mean, I think in the build up to this,
17:05we're going to talk about this more and more. And then we'll get into the
17:09England series as well after that. But in the meantime, and thanks to Sham, thanks to Anas.
17:14I know it's a late night now. And just say, guys, don't forget to keep an eye out at
17:20golfnews.com. And there'll be lots more competitions for chances to win subscriptions,
17:25chances to win all the equipment we're offering. And we'll be with you all the way through.
17:33Thanks to Anas and thanks to Sham. And we'll speak to you again soon, guys.
17:38Thank you, Sham. Thank you, Matt. Before we sign off, just for all our
17:41listeners who are following us, we will be back on 17th of June, a day before the test match,
17:47just to preview who will be the actual squad from England, from New Zealand and India for this
17:53big, big final. Mind you, it's the first World Test Championship final.
17:56So make sure to be logging on to your favorite page, Golf News.