*Official* World Test Championship Final 2021

[honestbharani]

A suitcase full of cash makes anything possible

Didn't help in the two day game couple of years ago, did it?

 

[Flem274*]

Didn't help in the two day game couple of years ago, did it?

maybe they didn't bring enough suitcases

 

[Athlai]

By the numbers
(since July 2019/ World Cup/start date of Test championship)

Player	Runs	Average	Wickets	B Avg
Latham	899​	39.08​
Conway	306​	76.5​
Williamson	990​	55​	1​	44​
Taylor	779​	38.95​
Nicholls	747​	39.31​
Watling	693​	40.76​
CDG	374​	34​	14​	35.42​
Jamieson	235​	47​	39​	15.15​
Wagner	184​	23​	52​	22.57​
Southee	148​	11.38​	65​	21.1​
Boult	118​	23.6​	41​	29.7​
Rohit	1030​	64.37​
Gill	378​	34.36​
Pujara	818​	29.21​
Kohli	877​	43.85​
Rahane	1095​	43.8​
Pant	662​	41.37​
Jadeja	469​	58.62​	28​	28.67​
Ashwin	295​	21.07​	67​	20.88​
Shami	65​	10.83​	36​	19.77​
Sharma	119​	13.22​	36​	17.36​
Bumrah	29​	3.62​	34​	22.41​

 

[Flem274*]

woah, one of indias most important players in aus has averaged just 29 thus far in the wtc

he certainly came to the party at the right time with those gritty 30+ scores

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Surprised Jadeja isn't higher than 42.

once again, he is the answer

 

[OverratedSanity]

woah, one of indias most important players in aus has averaged just 29 thus far in the wtc

he certainly came to the party at the right time with those gritty 30+ scores

Yeah Pujaras been in pretty mediocre form for a while now. Not had a big series since the previous tour to Australia in 2019. Always find players who find ways to contribute despite clearly being below their best very endearing.

 

[Apex Predator]

Curator saying Pitch will have some pace & bounce & likely some spin later on. Not a usual soft pitch then.

 

[Chewie]

once again, he is the answer

This couldn't be any more perfect

 

[hendrix]

If we lose there's going to be a lot of people mad about selections, but to be honest I'll fine with any non-Santner team.

I'll be quite upset if we don't play Wagner. It's a lesson we've learned on at least 3 separate occasions and I don't want it repeated.

 

[Bahnz]

Yeah, there were some looming questions about Wagner's efficacy in England, but he's largely settled those (albeit against a weak opponent).

I know KJ will play, but a little surprised he's being talked about as the automatic pick ahead of the 2 guys who've played tons of cricket in England in Boult and Wagner, especially given his one game with the Duke ended with pretty mediocre returns. I mean, I'd have him in the XI, but given this is his first series outside of NZ, I'm not sure why he's locked in ahead of the others.

 

[Athlai]

Yeah, there were some looming questions about Wagner's efficacy in England, but he's largely settled those (albeit against a weak opponent).

I know KJ will play, but a little surprised he's being talked about as the automatic pick ahead of the 2 guys who've played tons of cricket in England in Boult and Wagner, especially given his one game with the Duke ended with pretty mediocre returns. I mean, I'd have him in the XI, but given this is his first series outside of NZ, I'm not sure why he's locked in ahead of the others.

It's a heightocracy

 

[Chewie]

Yeah, there were some looming questions about Wagner's efficacy in England, but he's largely settled those (albeit against a weak opponent).

I know KJ will play, but a little surprised he's being talked about as the automatic pick ahead of the 2 guys who've played tons of cricket in England in Boult and Wagner, especially given his one game with the Duke ended with pretty mediocre returns. I mean, I'd have him in the XI, but given this is his first series outside of NZ, I'm not sure why he's locked in ahead of the others.

Probably helps that he's more handy with the bat tbh

 

[thierry henry]

It's a heightocracy

We’re absolutely ****ed if we start picking ***** because they’re tall. Goes against everything we stand (on tiptoes) for.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

The thing is, even in a dustbowl, Wagner and Southee are still likely to take the brunt of the wickets, and the Indian batsmen are still likely to dominate whatever spinner we pick.

I'm not sure the current Indian side is as good against spin as this makes out (Rohit the most obvious exception I guess). They struggled against Moeen on their last two tours to England. And more recently Leach did very well in India against the batsmen not named Rohit or Pant, and Joe Root took a 5-for.

 

[srbhkshk]

NZ's win over England and India's over Australia has really affirmed these as the top two sides, this can't have been happening at a better moment. (Global pandemic aside.)

Gonna be epic.

 

[nzfan]

Hoping for a close game like the WC finals. Just don't want to one sided game. Obviously I want Black Caps to win but need the game to ebb and flow. Indian batting is good to watch. Most are watchable barring maybe Pant and Pujara. Pant provides the excitement but not for purists.

NZ is not far behind with Conway at the top. Most are watchable other than Nicholls. Similarly both teams bowling is good to watch too. Indian spinners you can watch all day, they have the skills. NZ Pace bowling is as good as it can get if you are a pace bowling fan.

All in all both well balanced team and as mentioned above both have had overseas wins to back their claims for the top two spots. Can't wait...

 

[Moss]

Hoping for a close game like the WC finals. Just don't want to one sided game. Obviously I want Black Caps to win but need the game to ebb and flow. Indian batting is good to watch. Most are watchable barring maybe Pant and Pujara. Pant provides the excitement but not for purists.

NZ is not far behind with Conway at the top. Most are watchable other than Nicholls. Similarly both teams bowling is good to watch too. Indian spinners you can watch all day, they have the skills. NZ Pace bowling is as good as it can get if you are a pace bowling fan.

All in all both well balanced team and as mentioned above both have had overseas wins to back their claims for the top two spots. Can't wait...

Yeah, this. Both the 2003 and 2015 World Cup finals really took the gloss of the magnificent cricket India and NZ respectively had played in those tournaments.

A close game would also ensure there's interest carried forward to the next edition (?) of the WTC. While the structure has many flaws, as a work-in-progress concept I do hope it succeeds.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

I'd take an innings win.

@thierry henry are you Mike Hesson?

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Hoping for a close game like the WC finals. Just don't want to one sided game. Obviously I want Black Caps to win but need the game to ebb and flow.

I'll only be satisfied if India are bowled out for less than 26. Twice.

 

[thierry henry]

tbh I wanted to turn my last post into a McHesson joke, but it would’ve wrongly implied that I was a fan of theirs