In the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship 2021, the Indian and New Zealand cricket teams will face off in the final. In order to win the trophy, both clubs will put their best foot forward. The Indian cricket team has a strong batting order as well as a potent pace attack that has performed well on foreign grounds. New Zealand, on the other hand, has a talented group of cricketers who can lead the Kiwis to victory in the WTC Final.
With some spectacular performances over the previous two years, India and New Zealand emerged as the two best teams from the group rounds. They will now compete for the title of World Test Champions for the first time. Both clubs have a slew of superstars who can single-handedly alter the tide of a game in their favor.
In the test format, players like Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, and Kane Williamson have been reliable performers for the BlackCaps. Even the New Zealand bowlers, particularly Trent Boult and Tim Southee, would love bowling in such circumstances that are suited to pace bowling. As a result, skipper Virat Kohli and his teammates will have to be at the top of their game to avoid losing in an ICC final for the second time.
Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson is the world’s No. 1 ICC Test batsman. One of the key reasons for New Zealand’s revival in 5-day cricket is the right-handed batsman. The Kiwi skipper scored a phenomenal 817 runs in 9 matches in the 2019-21 WTC cycle, a sparkling average of 58.35, thanks to his outstanding stroke play. He has established himself as the backbone of New Zealand’s batting order throughout the years. The 30-year-old has successfully navigated the team’s ship through various difficult situations. In the WTC Final 2021, his consistency in Test cricket, along with his ability to sponge pressure, might put the Indian team on the back foot.
Tom Latham
New Zealand’s first-choice opening batsman and vice-captain, Latham, has played a key role in the Kiwis’ run to the World Test Championship final. So far in the league, the tenacious left-hand batsman has amassed 680 runs at an average of 40.00 from 11 Tests, including five half-centuries and a single century. The Black Caps will rely heavily on Latham to get them off to a good start against India. After a strong performance against the West Indies in the last home Test series, Latham will be full of confidence. His performance in the two Tests against England going up to the WTC final in 2021 will also be crucial.
Trent Boult
Regardless of the format, the left-arm bowler has always been a nightmare for Indian batsmen. Trent Boult’s swinging deliveries against the likes of Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Virat Kohli will be a sight to behold for cricket fans all around the world. He exploited the Indian batting order’s vulnerability in a thorough manner, taking 11 wickets in the two-match series. As a result, putting a strong total on the scoreboard was difficult for India. Boult would also take advantage of the English conditions, making him even more hazardous to confront. As a result, the Indian players may find it difficult to survive on the bowling-friendly field.
Kyle Jamieson
Jamieson has been outstanding for New Zealand with both the bat and the ball since making his Test debut a few years back. In his six Tests for New Zealand, the towering right-arm pacer has taken 36 wickets at a fantastic average of only 13.27. He’s also scored crucial runs in the bottom of the order, batting 56.50 through six innings. Throughout the Test series, he was pivotal in India’s batting order failures. The 26-year-old picked up the coveted wickets of Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Mayank Agarwal in the second Test match, in addition to a five-wicket haul.
Tim Southee
New Zealand’s bowling attack is led by the seasoned fast bowler. Tim Southee was at his lethal best in the 2019-21 WTC cycle, taking 51 wickets at an average of 20.66 in only ten matches. If the Ageas Bowl track delivers some seam movement to go with the tremendous swing available naturally in English conditions, Southee might be highly dangerous for Indian batsmen. His strength is his ability to consistently pitch the ball in the same location, even while bowling extended stretches in a day. He’s a fantastic slip fielder who can also score a few runs at the bottom of the order if necessary.
