#WTC21Final Day 6 - New Zealand clinch the first World Test Championship Title

       

     New Zealand Bowlers win it over Indian Batsmen

So ultimately it`s New Zealand. The first official World Test Champions. On the decisive final day of the match, it was kiwi bowlers who passed the ultimate test against renowned Indian batsmen. Target of 139 to win in last innings was calmly achieved by most experienced New Zealand batsmen Ross Taylor and ice-cool captain Kane Williamson with unbeaten partnership of 96 runs - 140/2 in the 46<sup>th</sup> over, out of total minimum 53. Overs and time was not much of an issue on final sunny day. Barring few hiccups that Ashwin caused them by removing both the openers by 18<sup>th</sup> over - 44/2, New Zealand  was hardly much in a trouble, except Taylor was dropped by Pujara at 85/2 in second slip and was also  in a bit of discomfort facing Bumrah`s short pitched deliveries.

India started the final day from overnight 64/2, with Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara. At start for couple of overs both appeared quite positive and playing with ease. Hardly anybody imagined the debacle that followed. But soon New Zealand bowlers found a probing length, especially tall Kyle Jamieson was very accurate, penetrative and hard to get away, unplayable at times. First Jamieson removed Virat at 13, in just 6^th over of the morning - 71/3, followed by Pujara 15 in 8^th. 72/4. Within 40 minutes of morning play. India just 40 ahead. Rishabh Pant joined Rahane and started playing freely, with his usual attacking flair. Pant got a life on 5 at 82/4.  Just when Rahane was also looking settled and growing in confidence, he got out to Boult to quite harmless delivery outside the leg stump, which just kissed glove on the way to wicket keeper, as Ajinkya tried  to glance bit half-heartedly, lazily. Rahane 15 -109/5. Partnership of 37, which ultimately turned to be the highest of the innings. New Zealand had broken the back of Indian batting by sending Virat, Pujara and Rahane quite cheaply within @ 90 minutes of the final day morning, for just 45 runs addition to the overnight score.  By lunch India were reduced to 130/5.Lead 98.Pant 28, Jadeja 12 were the last hope for India with Ashwin to follow. Post lunch New Zealand bowled with specific plan and restrictive field placing. Keeping both the batsmen quite under pressure and not giving any free scoring opportunities. Ultimately they removed Jadeja on 16  - 142/6. Ashwin also tried to counter attack from the word go, without much success. Boult removed increasingly frustrating tied down Pant on 41 and Ashwin 7 in the same over. 156/7,156/8. Shami swinged his bat for couple of boundaries but ultimately it was too much to expect from him. Southee removed the last 2 wickets, finishing with 4, Boult 3 and Jamieson 2 and Wagner 1 for the innings. Kyle Jamieson who removed Virat in both the innings , finished with match winning figures of  46-22-61-7, with economy of 1.33 in his just his  8^th test match ,bagging the man of the match award. Indian innings was wrapped up for 170 in 70 overs before tea. Leaving New Zealand target of 139 runs within minimum balance 53 overs to clinch the first WTC title. New Zealand openers started quite cautiously until Ashwin broke the partnership at 33. First Latham, followed by Conway - 44/2. Then it was all Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor show, till the end. Excellent all round team effort and winning performance.

 It was after year 2000 New Zealand has won the ICC title, then also defeating the same opposition - India. India`s last was in 2013 under M S Dhoni. Tough achieving the no. 1 team status intermittently for quite some time since 2015, ICC title has eluded Virat Kohli (and Ravi Shastri).Though New Zealand was bit lucky to make it to the final. Playing against England before this match and winning the series 1-0, stood them in good stead prior this test match. On the other hand India hardly played any test match after the February that too at home and was in completely different conditions. Having IPL match practice was never going to be enough especially for the fast bowlers, who took bit more time to adjust to the longer spells and English bowling conditions. So Indians are suggesting for the best of three test finals. Also selection of two spinners is going to be debated for the long time with such seam and swing bowler friendly conditions. And if the top order batting was failing miserably - not a single half century by any Indian - it was too much to expect better batting display from spinner-batting allrounders. India has lot to ponder on before the England 5 test match series due to start on Aug 4.  Having said this.

Probably it was fitting enough for New Zealand to win the championship, were hard done by bit bizarre rule in 2019 ODI World Cup Final, without actually loosing it. The nice, soft spoken, gentle cricketing monsters are the worthy first test match world champions. Let`s all congratulate the black caps Team New Zealand.   

- Vivek Ketkar

#WTC21Final Day 5 - India 32 ahead

                                              

Draw - New Zealand or India?

So over to the final day of final of World Test Championship with all three possibilities still intact. Draw or Winner either from New Zealand or India? With minimum 98 overs of play on the cards - weather permitting.

India 32 ahead with both openers Shubhman 8 and Rohit 30 back in the pavilion. It`s up to Virat, Ajinkya with Pujara holding one end intact to try and go for some fast runs. It`s still possible to score fast and tempt New Zealand to go for that target in the fourth innings. And if New Zealand allow maverick Rishabh Pant to get away with the match, say around one and half hour @ for 20 odd overs. India can be still be in the driver’s seat. With disciplined kiwi swing attack this is very difficult. On the other hand New Zeeland can hope to trigger Indian batting collapse and go for some manageable easy victory target.   

Earlier on fifth day after 1 hour loss due to bad light, Both Taylor and Williamson denied any success to India in first hour, playing with caution and scoring just 16 runs. It was Shami who gave India the first breakthrough through Shubman`s superb catch flinging towards right at mid off. Taylor 11-117/3. Ishant quickly removed left hander Nicholls, through Rohit`s brilliant catch at second slip. Shami again striked once more before lunch clean bowling B J Watling. NZ 117/3 at lunch. Post lunch Shami removed dangerous hard hitting Grandhome and attacking Jamieson. It was Shami’s magnificent bowling who denied New Zealand to run away with the match. Virat allowed him to bowl a lot hoping him to get five wicket haul. That delayed opportunity to Ashwin and Jadeja. Meanwhile Kane Williamson @ 5 hour knock was ended by Ishant at 49 - just like Rahane - Virat has precisely positioned himself at wide second slip. Indian catching and even ground fielding was excellent, keeping kiwis under constant pressure. Ashwin sent left hander Wagner back immediately. Tim Southee hiked 2 sixes. But Jadeja bowled him immediately after the second one. New Zealand - 249. Lead by 32. Boomrah was wicket less, a rarity.

So over to fascinating, enthralling hopefully nail-biting final day`s play.

-Vivek Ketkar

#WTC21 Final Day 3 - India 217, New Zealand 101/2.

           Can Indian Bowlers` hold New Zealand batsmen?

New Zealand 116 behind India's first innings total of 217, with 8 wickets in hand, at the end of day 3.Halfway through the test, 3 more days to go. So Monday day 4 is likely to be most important day of the match. Can Indian Bowlers dismiss New Zealand below 200 or New Zealand would score big and run away with the match? With substantial 1st innings lead and drive out India completely out of this championship final?

Earlier India managed to add just 71 runs to their overnight 146/3.Virat went without any addition to his 44.Rahane resisted bit with 20 more runs today, but got out in a bit bizarre way. Knowing, looking at the short ball trap set in front of him just happily walked in that; wasted all the hard work and patience showed up to that point. Earlier Rishabh Pant also left chasing too far outside the off stump, with just a boundary after patient 20 odd balls.  Ashwin seeing the challenging conditions to bat swinged his bat for few boundaries with 22 runs cameo. Jamieson was the pick of the NZ Bowlers with total 5 wickets in the innings including one opportunity for hat-trick. Jadeja got out last on 15.

Surprisingly Indian bowlers were not able to swing the bowl as much as NZ did, even after 70 odd overs. But it is being said that this Duke's ball swings throughout even after 50/60 overs. India has bowled 49 so far. New Zealand openers played very patiently denying any early success to Ishant, Bumrah. It was Shami who caused bit uncomfort to them, but was not lucky enough to get any wicket. Ultimately Ashwin induced a false drive and got Latham with Virat taking a brilliant one handed catch jumping precisely at silly mid off, as late as in 35th over-70/1.Don Conway new blue-eyed boy for NZ , man of the series in just concluded England series, scored only half century in the match so far . Shami's brilliant running catch at mid on helped Ishant to get rid of him at 54 in 49th over- 101/2.Ross Taylor had to play out only 2 balls as bad light ended day's play.

New Zealand's most prolific, experienced pair is at crease with Kane Williamson 12 not out. Team India bowlers have got a task on their hands.

Let's hope for enthralling 4th day's test match play.

- Vivek Ketkar

#WTC21 Final Day 2 - Indian batsmen cautious in bowlers` friendly conditions

 India 146/3 - Combat Challenging Conditions 

After solid start of 62 runs by openers -  in overcast, pace bowler friendly conditions - India took it to 146/3 in 64.4 overs , when badlight stopped play again after Tea time. First stoppage was just before tea interval.

Ken Williamson won the toss and happily invited India to bat, in typical English weather conditions, suitable for seam and swing bowling as New Zealand opted for 4 pacers,without any spinner. India on the other hand persisted with two spinners avoiding any temptation to replace one with pacer. Ravi Shastri showed immense confidence by saying that, this is our best bowling attack and is able to perform well in any conditions.

Both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill played well and negotiated the New Zealand bowling for almost 90 minutes. Were 41/0 in 14 overs at the end of first hour. Both openers had a specific strategy of bit advancing in the crease to upset the bowler`s rhythm. Even experienced duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee found it bit difficult to maintain their good length bowling. In the process Shubman got hit on the helmet by Jamieson bouncer. Rohit made 34 after falling to a bit tentative push away from the body, outside the off stump to Jamieson. Was very well set and both openers were punishing loose deliveries and getting runs in boundaries and were looking more and more confident to play long innings. After Rohit Sharma`s departure in 21st over, Shubman Gill too followed in 25th over in Wagner`s 1st over caught behind by Wicket Keeper B J Watling, who has announced his retirement from test match cricket after this final. Rohit made 34 with 6 boundaries and Shubman 28 with 3. 62/1 and 63/2. Pujara typically batted with his usual immense patience, opening his account on 35th ball with a boundary. He too got hit once on helmet, due to mistimed pull shot. India at lunch were 69/2 in 28 overs.

Post lunch Trent Boult removed Pujara in very first over of his second spell, with an incoming delivery hitting his back leg, in front. Pujara 8,88/3-41 overs. In the very same over Virat survived very confident caught behind appeal. But this incidence stirred quite a debate around the ground as umpire on his own went for DRS review, without any taken by fielding side. Snicko meter  showed nothing and Indian captain continued. Virat was very confident throughout, right from the word go. Looked very positive with his body language even in his solid defense. Ajinkya Rahane was bit tentative at times but stuck to the task and carried out in very very challenging conditions , as the ball continued to talk, swing throughout, the day. Play had to stop few minutes before tea due to bad light, as it was getting more gloomy. India made 51 runs in 27.3 overs for 1 wicket in second session.120/3-55.3 overs.

Both batsmen ran extremely well between the wickets and continuously kept New Zealand fielders under pressure. Post tea it was further gloomy after around 10 odd overs. Both Virat and Ajinkya were looking very positive, aggressive  and were looking to score fast against bit tiring New Zealand .But weather conditions forced umpires to call off day`s play after 64.4 overs with India 146/3. Virat was looking very confident and determined to play long innings with caution, as uncharacteristically has hit just one boundary in his 44 not out off 124 balls. Ajinkya 29 n.o. India is looking  forward to get maximum possible runs through not out captain and his deputy. Followed by maverick Rishabh Pant  allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. Looks like another absorbing day of ultimate test cricket on the cards to make Sunday more interesting.

-Vivek Ketkar

 

  

#WTC21 Final - 1st day washed out , still 5 days to go

 

All Rain and No Play

 

So it was typical English conditions today. After a fortnight of sunshine, it was intermittent rain since morning at Southampton, England.

After waiting for four hours or so Umpires abandoned first day's play. Still we can have a match for five more days, courtesy reserve day.

India has already announced their playing eleven. It would be interesting to see if they still go with two spinners in Ashwin and Jadeja or go for additional fast bowler, in case this typical English weather continues. In that case Ravindra Jadeja is most likely to miss.

New Zealand may opt for four pacers.

Let's hope and see if the game does start on time on Saturday 19th. 

Cricketing world is hoping for a cracker of a match, with experts opinions still divided over the Final Champion.

So over to day 2 of 6 days test match now.

 

- Vivek Ketkar

 

 

                                                                             

WTC Final IND V N Z - Curtain Raiser

#WTC21 Final

 

INDIA Vs NEW ZEALAND – World Test Championship Final - Curtain Raiser

 

So it’s here at last. Much awaited, much talked about first ever official World Test Championship FINAL  is here. Since the test cricket started in 1877, 144 years back between Australia and England. Though through all these years there were few teams , termed as uncrowned Test Champions like Don Bradman`s , Lloyd and Richards` West Indies in 1980`s . Steve Waugh`s Australia during 1990s.

But this ICC planned WTC is started in 2019.

India is taking on New Zealand at Southampton, England from 18^th to 22^nd June, 2021.

In spite of worldwide pandemic ICC and both countries` cricket boards, have managed to go on with this final match. With the help of restrictions like bio bubble, almost empty stadiums to name few.

India made to the final playing through 6 series in total, Winning 5 of them quite comprehensively in total 17 test matches, since August 2019., With  12 test matches wins, 4 losses and 1 draw.

Obviously most remarkable is the 4 tests`, series win in Australia 2-1, bouncing back from 0-1, in December 20 – January 21. One of the biggest turnaround in world cricket with 9 players not in the last 4<sup>th</sup> test who played the 1<sup>st</sup> one. But that`s all history now. Part of very proud one.

Here Team India is going to play with New Zealand, the only country to which they lost series 0-2 in February 2020., during this journey to the final.

India is going with 2 spinners n 3 fast bowlers, in playing eleven. Only bit of concern for team India is lack of any international match practice since last few months after series with England at home. On the other hand New Zealand is quite in groove with 1-0 series win over England in England itself this month only.If the match happens to take in typical English conditions it would be interesting to see how India`s top order - Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshvar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane tackle with world class New Zealand pace attack especially renowned pair of Tim Southee and Trent Boult plus Wegner and very promising Kyle Jamison.

Let’s hope for very high quality cricket display on this world stage. With both teams having almost equal chance of winning. Let`s see who plays better cricket on 5 days and win maximum sessions. Team India of fiery Virat or New Zealand of Ice cool Kane Williamson.

 

- Vivek Ketkar