*Official* World Test Championship Final 2021

[sunilz]

You reckon Kohli will cry when he loses? Yes imo

He may if his PR team advises him to do so
Already there is huge pressure on his captaincy. Many people are already saying India won't win WTC final because he is the captain (Panauti factor-bad luck)

 

[Noumenon]

Some harsh posts on Kohli. I think his day will definitely be ruined. Nothing short of a call from his wealth advisor/manager assuring him that he's on track to make 30 million for the current year would soften the blow.

 

[Zinzan]

Santner will be there definitely He's cover for Ajaz.

So pleased you're wrong here

 

[Zinzan]

Really think Boult's the most under threat. Talk of Jamieson at 7 is just insanely idiotic against a world class attack like India's (Simon Doull).

1. Tom Latham
2. Devon Conway
3. Kane Williamson
4. Ross Taylor
5. Henry Nicholls
6. BJ Watling
7. Collin de Grandhomme
8. Kyle Jamieson
9. Tim Southee
10. Neil Wagner
11. Ajaz Patel

Wouldn't be upset with either of Boult/Patel though.

Not disagreeing, because statistically all of the 3 other seamers have outperformed Boult in the last couple of years, but he's Trent Boult & hence I just can't see the selectors leaving him out, whether justifiable or not.

For me the XI is either going to be that they decide:

1) Since all 6 days the forecast is for rain/shower/overcast conditions meaning the pitch is less likely to dry and take turn they'll go for:

Latham
Conway
KW
Taylor
Nicholls
Watling
de Grandhomme
Jamieson
Wagner
Southee
Boult

Or:

2) If they really feel they need the spin option, they risk Jamieson at 7 and go with

Latham
Conway
KW
Taylor
Nicholls
Watling
Jamieson
Wagner
Southee
Patel
Boult


Either way I can't see them not settling for all 4 seamers.


I'm leaning towards option 1 myself with the forecast the way it is coupled with the fact Patel is unlikely to trouble India much at all unless there's turn. I know we all criticised England for not including a spinner at Edgbaston, but clearly there's a different context here with the pitch, conditions & opposition batsmen.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

How are you feeling Indian fans? Feels like jubilant kiwis are dominating this thread

The thread (and poll) were always destined to turn out this way. There's a large section of the Kiwi posters here who were always likely to be bullish and a large section of Indian fans here who were always likely to Gambhir.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Gambhiring has now just come to mean "being pessimistic" which isnt what it actually meant originally at all. I blame pews for this.

 

[Moss]

Not disagreeing, because statistically all of the 3 other seamers have outperformed Boult in the last couple of years, but he's Trent Boult & hence I just can't see the selectors leaving him out, whether justifiable or not.

For me the XI is either going to be that they decide:

1) Since all 6 days the forecast is for rain/shower/overcast conditions meaning the pitch is less likely to dry and take turn they'll go for:

Latham
Conway
KW
Taylor
Nicholls
Watling
de Grandhomme
Jamieson
Wagner
Southee
Boult

Or:

2) If they really feel they need the spin option, they risk Jamieson at 7 and go with

Latham
Conway
KW
Taylor
Nicholls
Watling
Jamieson
Wagner
Southee
Patel
Boult


Either way I can't see them not settling for all 4 seamers.


I'm leaning towards option 1 myself with the forecast the way it is coupled with the fact Patel is unlikely to trouble India much at all unless there's turn. I know we all criticised England for not including a spinner at Edgbaston, but clearly there's a different context here with the pitch, conditions & opposition batsmen.

Option 2 asking for trouble IMO, seen too many instances of a long tail folding quickly in big matches, and the likes of Bumrah and Ashwin could end things quickly. As it is CdG has his work cut out making a decent contribution with the bat against the sort of attack he's vulnerable (quicks who bowl fast and full, and quality spin).

Option 1 seems better if not ideal, unless the conditions absolutely demand otherwise. Ajaz can cool his heels and prepare for the India tour where he will *really* be needed.

 

[Noumenon]

Two left arm quicks for NZ and their posse of left arm bats means Ashwin will be in business regardless of weather. The weather forecast may scramble Kohli's brain though and he could pick Shardul.

 

[hendrix]

Option 2 asking for trouble IMO, seen too many instances of a long tail folding quickly in big matches, and the likes of Bumrah and Ashwin could end things quickly. As it is CdG has his work cut out making a decent contribution with the bat against the sort of attack he's vulnerable (quicks who bowl fast and full, and quality spin).

Option 1 seems better if not ideal, unless the conditions absolutely demand otherwise. Ajaz can cool his heels and prepare for the India tour where he will *really* be needed.

TBH I'm disappointed Mitchell isn't in the squad. I can't see CdG doing much with the bat.

 

[Moss]

TBH I'm disappointed Mitchell isn't in the squad. I can't see CdG doing much with the bat.

Mitchell should be kicking himself for gifting away his wicket at Edgbaston, a substantial score there may have really brought him into consideration (though you suspect the management had made up its mind on choice of allrounder).

Still feel CdG offers a better package as an allrounder than Mitchell, but despite what happened in the 2020 tests India will feel they have a real chance against that middle-lower order.

Rachin the allrounder as a tactical move should have been explored but that's wishful thinking (and maybe to his own benefit that it wasn't).

 

[Teja.]

Indian batting averages in England:

Sharma - 17
Gill - N/A
Pujara - 29.4
Kohli - 36.3
Rahane - 29.3
Pant - 27
Jadeja - 30.7
Ashwin - 25.8

 

[Moss]

Indian batting averages in England:

Sharma - 17
Gill - N/A
Pujara - 29.4
Kohli - 36.3
Rahane - 29.3
Pant - 27
Jadeja - 30.7
Ashwin - 25.8

Kohli's average is a bit misleading in the context of this game, brought down heavily by the 2014 series I think. The others don't make for great reading, but spin aside nos 6 & 7 is an area where India have an advantage IMO. Pant+Jadeja looks better than Watling+CdG at this stage of their careers.

 

[CricAddict]

Kohli's average is a bit misleading in the context of this game, brought down heavily by the 2014 series I think. The others don't make for great reading, but spin aside nos 6 & 7 is an area where India have an advantage IMO. Pant+Jadeja looks better than Watling+CdG at this stage of their careers.

Rightly said. Pant and Jadeja are the game changers for India. The batting strength for both teams are almost equal while NZ hold the edge in bowling.

 

[Binkley]

Still feel CdG offers a better package as an allrounder than Mitchell, but despite what happened in the 2020 tests India will feel they have a real chance against that middle-lower order.

I agree with CdG over Mitchell. It is probably tight, but de Grandhomme offers so much more with the ball - especially with the Duke in hand. From what I have seen of Mitchell he is a guy who might plug up an end for a while, but he does not strike me as a wicket taker. And while Mitchell is probably a safer bat on a rank turner, we are playing in England and India are going to go in with more pace than spin in the side.

 

[harsh.ag]

Forget the AR, pick Young. Best choice for NZ.

 

[hendrix]

Forget the AR, pick Young. Best choice for NZ.

Probably not wrong given Wagner can bowl long spells.

 

[Days of Grace]

If one of the four bowlers gets injured then we’re toast, though.

 

[Moss]

CdG will play for sure unless they go in with 5 specialist bowlers which I would be very surprised at, would have to be a complete road for them to consider it. They've shown a determination to stick with him even when he's appeared out of depth with the bat (UAE 2018 tests, lead-up to WC 2019).

 

[_Ed_]

The thread (and poll) were always destined to turn out this way. There's a large section of the Kiwi posters here who were always likely to be bullish and a large section of Indian fans here who were always likely to Gambhir.

Not sure I agree with that - a lot of us are pretty pessimistic.

 

[Flem274*]

this is the nz cricket team - completely randomised heartbreak is always just around the corner

if we ressurrected prime bradman to play for us, im pretty sure we could make him average 38