By Anupama Nair
In the last two parts, I spoke about history of Test Cricket, advent of Test Cricket in India, India’s journey to greatness in the Test arena, World Test Championship and lastly India’s and New Zealand’s journey to the finals. When Kohli and Williamson take field for the match tomorrow, they will renew a captaincy rivalry, nearly 13 years ago – Under 18 World Cup semi-final in 2008, which incidentally was won by Kohli. Tomorrow, 18th June is a day I am waiting with bated breath – the final of the World Test Championship is about to commence. Is two years of hard work going to pay with Kohli holding the coveted trophy or will it end in tears like the semi-final of the World Cup 2019, or will the famous but unpredictable English rain play spoilsport, only time would tell? I am going to tune in on Star Sports at 2.30 PM to watch the Expert Analysis and then the live match, if the Mumbai rains do not play spoil sport.
After a two-year tough competition between world’s best teams, all that remains are five, or probably six, days at the Hampshire Bowl to crown the inaugural World Test champions. India and New Zealand are possibly the two best Test teams in the world, since the start of the competition in 2019. But who will be crowned the best in a one-off, is it winner takes it all, or a draw?
The match is an important game for a number of reasons for both teams. For New Zealand, the chance to win an ICC trophy is a dream having only won the Champions Trophy. New Zealand's loss in the last two ODI World Cup finals is an added impetus to win the World Test Championship. For India however, it would avenge the World Cup semi-final loss in 2019 and also the heartbreak of losing in two consecutive World Cup semi-finals in 2015 and 2019, even after being the best team in the tournament. It would also be Virat Kohli’s maiden ICC trophy.
When India win an ICC event for the first time it tends to have an epoch-making effect on the game as a whole. India’s famous win at the 1983 World Cup changed their attitude to one-day internationals, and it became the financial gain for both Indian and world cricket. The emergence of the T20 format that led to the money-spinning Indian Premier League, was due to India’s victory over arch rivals Pakistan in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007. So, at a time when Test cricket’s long-term future and popularity is concerned, if India became World Test Champions, it could be a significant boost for the sport’s oldest and toughest format. The Indian team agrees with the view. Cheteshwar Pujara said that an “Indian victory will help the format’s survival. Test cricket needs to survive, and a WTC format helps where every Test, every series is important”. “The importance of India’s presence in the final cannot be exaggerated. Such is India’s economic clout, a final without them would arguably have already seen the WTC fall at the first hurdle, but they have made it & with them they bring one billion eyeballs,” said Freddie Wilde, a cricket analyst.
Now let me talk about the rules of the game. Since, Summer rains are common in England, ICC have allotted a reserve day, in case play time is lost. The reserve day will be 23rd June. The ICC has come up with a Reserve Day to ensure full five days of play, and it will only be used if lost playing time cannot be recovered through the normal provisions for each day. During the month of June, England usually receives heavy rainfall as it marks the start of the summer season. So, we might see a lot of stoppage of play during the course of five days and that’s why reserve day would be crucial to get a result. “In the event of time being lost during the match, the ICC match referee will regularly update the teams and media about the way in which the Reserve Day may be used,” ICC said in a statement. The final decision on whether the Reserve Day needs to be used will be announced at the scheduled start of the last hour on the fifth day.
According to playing conditions of the five-day game, one team needs to have a lead of 200 runs, to enforce the follow-on. However, if the first day's play has been washed out then the lead for follow-on rule is reduced to 150 runs. Thus, to enforce a follow India and New Zealand need to have a lead of 200 or more runs. There has been a debate about who will be declared the winner if the final ended in a draw or tie. Ahead of the start of WTC in 2018, ICC has said that if final end in a draw or tie, the trophy will be shared and in its latest media statement, ICC clarified the same view. Then India and New Zealand will be adjudged joint winners if their final clash in Southampton ends in a draw or tie.
“The Southampton pitch for WTC final will have pace, bounce and carry thanks to good weather due to a lot of sun in Southampton”, said Simon Lee, the head grounds man of Hampshire Bowl. “The Southampton pitch is likely to favor swing bowling in first two days while it would be perfect for batting on Day 3 and 4. The final day wicket assist spinners and also it seems very tough for batting”.
What should India’s strategy be? Firstly, luck has to favor in winning the toss, then assess the conditions well. Play the Kiwi seamers sensibly and not lose wickets as the pitch gets batsman friendly later. Avoid getting too aggressive since, a couple of wickets is all it can take to change the course of a Test match especially of Rohit, Pujara or King Kohli. Indian bowling attack should use bouncers liberally. The New Zealand batsmen like Latham, Conway, Tom Blundell, BJ Watling, and even Williamson to a certain extent, believe in wearing down the opposition bowlers and then attack. So, for bowlers, the patience is the key. And last but not the least is the contribution of the lower order and youngsters like Pant and Siraj.
England's Richard Illingworth and Michael Gough will be the on-field umpires. Former England opener Chris Broad will be the ICC match referee for the game. Richard Kettleborough a member of the elite panel, will be the TV umpire, and Alex Wharf of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Umpires will be the fourth official, the ICC confirmed in a statement.
Now, let us see, what the former players have predicted. Brett Lee said it is a clash of aggression and calmness. Former English cricketer, Michael Vaughn, predicted Kiwis have an edge as they trashed both India and England in recent tests. Gavaskar, felt India will have an edge.Many other former cricketers, contrasted on the style of the captaincy of both captains — fire and ice
India squad for WTC Final: Virat Kohli (captain) Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Md Shami Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Umesh Yadav, and Hanuma Vihari.
Standby players: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arzan Nagwaswalla
New Zealand squad for WTC final: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, BJ Watling (wk), Tom Blundell, Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult, Matt Henry.
I hope it is a great match. I wish the Blues all the best. You deserve the trophy.
(Picture Courtesy: IANS)
Interesting article. Hope india wins.
Good article