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WTC Final Prediction: Who will win the big match?

Robin Rounder
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WTC Final Prediction: Who will win the big match?

WTC Final Prediction: Who will win? | WTC 2021 Final India vs New Zealand Prediction – predicting who will win the Final

The much-awaited ICC World Test Championship Final 2021 is finally here. India and New Zealand will lock horns for the title of World Test Champion. Both sides have played some very good cricket to be here in the final, and certainly deserve to be there.

India dominated the league stage of the World Test Championship. They were the table toppers with 520 points and a win percentage of 72.2%. This Indian Test side is arguably India’s strongest side in history. The pace attack especially is the best fast bowling attack for India.

New Zealand too has played some very dominant cricket at their home. They were undefeated at their home and even white-washed India 2-0 when India toured Kiwi land. New Zealand finished 2nd in the WTC points table with 420 points and a win percentage of 70%.

They also won the 2-match series against England in England and it’s a great morale-boosting win just before the WTC final. Irrespective of whoever wins the WTC final one thing is sure that the fans are in for a cracker of a contest.

Who will win the World Test Championship Final?

Coming straight to the point, I think India will win the World Test Championship. Hear me out why I’m saying this before labeling me as a typical Indian who wants his country to win. I do, yes, but there’s something more than just that as to why I’m saying that India will win.

Overseas Performance

Both India and New Zealand have dominated the games played in their own backyard. Both sides won all the series at their home but India has been a better touring side when compared with New Zealand. India retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21. That series was one of the best Test series ever. India won the series after getting all-out for 36 runs and losing the first Test.

Virat Kohli and many other big names were missing but this Indian side showed a lot of courage and character and won the series against all the odds. India also won against the Windies in the Caribbean where the Windies side is not an easy opponent in their own backyard.

New Zealand, on the other hand, got whitewashed 3-0 in Australia. They lost all the Tests by 296 runs, 247 runs, and 279 runs respectively. The Kiwi side won a Test against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. They were scheduled to tour Bangladesh but the series got cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. India too has lost series’ overseas but they performed better than New Zealand in this regard.

Batting Strength

India and New Zealand both have a world-class bowling attack. The main battle in the World Test Championship final will be between the batting units of both teams. It’s very simple but I think both sides’ bowling attack will perform really well and whichever team’s batting order will play better will win.

New Zealand has just won a Test series against England. Devon Conway stole the show with the bat in the first game but other than him only Henry Nicholls did well with the bat, others failed to perform in that game. In the second Test, Conway, Ross Taylor and Will Young each scored in the 80s. Kane Williamson failed in the first Test and didn’t play the second.

India has Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as openers, both inexperienced in England. Then India has Cheteshwa Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja. New Zealand has Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, and Daryl Mitchell or Colin de Grandhomme.

The Kiwi openers have done well when compared to their Indian counterparts who are yet to prove themselves on English soil. Not going into numbers but other than that, if you compare the middle-order of both sides, I think the Indian batters have the edge over this Kiwi middle-order.

Indian batsmen have been better on the overseas tours when compared with New Zealand batters. Also, India has the “X-factor” in Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja with the bat. Both are in excellent touch at the moment and can turn the table on its head.

I’m saying this again that this match will depend more on both teams’ batting than bowling, as the bowlers will do what is expected from them.

I’m also not saying that this will be a walk in the park for the Indian side. New Zealand has been India’s kryptonite in the ICC tournaments and is a very strong side to defeat. The game will be played on the ground on that day and whoever excels will win the title and I feel that it will be the Indian team.

Thanks for Reading!

Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.

WTC Final: Which team has a better pace attack?

Tarkesh Jha
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WTC Final: Which team has a better pace attack?

WTC Final: Which team has a better pace attack? | Analysing whether India or New Zealand boasts of a better pace attack in WTC Final

Nothing is probably going to define the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) finale more than some quality pacers putting up a lethal display of their abilities in the highest stage of Test cricket.

Both India and New Zealand head into this contest with some tremendous fast-bowlers in their ranks. The Kiwis have more or less regularly been known to boast of a potent pace arsenal. However, the emergence of India’s own battery of quicks under the tutelage of skipper Virat Kohli has perhaps scripted their journey to this showpiece encounter too.

New Zealand is coming on the back of an encouraging recent series against England, with most of its players seeming to be in fine touch to gear up for the finale.

“Attack wins you matches, defence wins you titles”, is a term oft-used in football. The cricketing equivalent to it could possibly be, “Batsmen win you matches, whereas bowlers win you tournaments.”

It is not entirely untrue either, given that one has regularly seen modest totals being defended by a quality set of bowlers in high-pressure multi-nation competition encounters. The Indian team management will go into this match with the tried and tested trio of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah leading the attack. There were growing calls to accommodate Mohammed Siraj in the XI, arguably in Ishant’s place. But if the latter is fit, this would perhaps be a disservice to the Delhi-based bowler who has been top-notch leading the bowling attack in the last few years.

On the other hand, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson and Neil Wagner are expected to form New Zealand’s pace quartet. If one observes closely, both teams have certain glaring similarities in their group of pacers. They have the experienced hands of Southee and Ishant, the proven performers in Shami and Boult, with the likes of Bumrah, Jamieson and Wagner instilling the sense of unpredictability that often turns out to be the major point of difference in matches of this magnitude.

The New Zealand pacers have certain advantages in their way. Firstly, as has been asserted many a time before, they will be playing in conditions that they are by and large quite familiar with. Moreover, they have played competitive cricket in the recent series vs England, again in similar conditions, and perhaps could be better geared up for fronting the challenges than their Indian counterparts.

But, this Indian unit has time and again shown that it never shies away from adapting to alien conditions seamlessly. So, one should better anticipate Kohli’s pacers to be all charged up with adequate practice ahead of the big game.

To determine which of the pace attacks has an advantage over the other, it is necessary to view it largely in the context of the WTC Final only.

The Kiwis have the advantage of having two absolutely brilliant left-arm pacers in their bowling unit. Boult will put Indian opener Rohit Sharma through some grueling test in the initial phases of the game at least. Similarly, Wagner’s ability to bowl incessantly long spells mean that he will keep knocking the doors of the Indian batsmen for an opening somehow. The key here would be to practice patience in abundance.

Nevertheless, the Indian batting can very well tackle the left-arm challenge in the later phases of the innings at least. With southpaws like Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja set to play, one could project the Indian batsmen to work around a strategy to neutralize the most unique threat that the Kiwi pacers have to offer.

But, Jamieson’s skills will have to be combated equally well too. The tall pacer had wreaked havoc in the Indian team’s tour to New Zealand in early 2020. Surely, by now Kohli’s men would have had enough material to understand the challenges that Jamieson has to offer. As aforementioned, this unit never refrains from adapting and accepting thrown difficulties. But, this time around, they will have to mould around their plans extremely well too.

Southee’s incredible ability to extract that just that little amount of movement from the surface will have to be kept a close eye on too.

Check out CricBlog’s WTC Final coverage, including these great articles by talented writers:

From an Indian perspective, what one has to expect from Ishant, Shami and Bumrah is more or less known. Regardless of poor team performances in England in 2018, the trio had managed to carve out a name for themselves. The three pacers complement each other brilliantly, with each one of them excelling in different phases of the innings that give the fast-bowling battery a further holistic shape.

They didn’t have a specifically great series in New Zealand in 2020 though, which was also driven by the fact that Bumrah had just returned from a serious injury and wasn’t firing from all cylinders either. This time around, they will be much better prepared and also playing in conditions similar to the one in 2018 gives them a general understanding of what to expect from the track too.

By and large, it is arguably difficult to rank either of the pace units better than each other. Sticking one’s neck out and making improbable predictions doesn’t make much sense either. Nevertheless, one can very well conclude that two incredibly brilliant fast-bowling attacks could very well be the decisive stimulants that can allow their respective teams to lift the maiden WTC title.

Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter today.

WTC Final: IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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WTC Final: IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

WTC Final: IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs New Zealand WTC Final Key Players | Southampton Pitch Report

When discerning just how important this World Test Championship Final, just ask the fans of New Zealand and India. Granted, there are far more in India than New Zealand (population of over one billion vs five or so million), which again highlights just how superb this New Zealand side is in once again flying under the radar to reach the showpiece event.

And it’s the showpiece events that have haunted both New Zealand and India in recent years. The Black Caps, so close in 2015 and especially 2019 in ODI cricket, continue to show their fighting qualities in the longest format. They are unbeaten in their last eight Tests after a disappointing 3-0 series defeat in Australia at the turn of 2019-2020, which includes a dominant and clinical 2-0 series win against India at home a month or two later.

Such is New Zealand’s aura is that they swept England aside with almost their second XI at Edgbaston. Their batting, so simple yet effective, combines magnificently well with their bowling, of which at least two quality bowlers are guaranteed to miss out on the XI. Devon Conway has been magnificent in his short international career to date, and his partnership with Tom Latham – particularly against the superb Ishant – will make for great viewing. As will, of course, the captaincy styles of Kane Williamson and Virat Kohli.

India deserve to be here just on their scarcely-believable series win in Australia at the turn of the year. Their players dropped like flies with injuries, but their spirit rose and rose with each passing delivery, eventually culminating in their greatest ever triumph away from home, confirming their passage to this showpiece event.

However, with India’s magnificent qualities – of which they are many – come some flaws. Their starts to their last two series – against Australia and England – is cause for improvement, as any major slip up here in a one-off final is not salvagable. The battle of India’s contrasting but effective top six against New Zealand’s brigade is one for the ages, as is India’s magnificent pace attack against New Zealand’s reliable batting.

10 years ago in England, India were struggling for any impact with the ball. Now, they had to make a key call as to which pacer they leave out. Fingers crossed the weather holds for long enough that we see enough cricket, because if we do, we are in for an awesome ride.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

India:

  • Virat Kohli undoubtedly holds a huge key to India’s chances. He hasn’t had the best of WTC campaigns, but his 2018 tour of England can hold him in good stead. In that series, he struck a brilliant 593 runs at an average of 59.30, including 46 and 58 at Southampton.
  • Overall against New Zealand, Kohli has scored 773 runs in nine Tests at an average of 51.53. In New Zealand, where conditions are somewhat similar to England, Kohli’s average drops to 36, with a century and half-century in four Tests.
  • Cheteshwar Pujara is the only India player to have scored a Test century on this ground (132* in 2018). Pujara was superb again in Australia, and he will be key in grinding the New Zealand attack down. Overall against New Zealand, Pujara has scored 749 runs in nine Tests at an average of 46.81.
  • Ajinkya Rahane has struck three half-centuries in four innings on this ground. The Indian vice-captain averages 44.44 in 42 away Tests, which is a highlight of his career.
  • Haven’t we all enjoyed the remarkable rise of Rishabh Pant over the past year? He is a game-changer, and has the potential to swing the game well in his team’s favour, as he showed in Australia and against England at home.
  • There was a lot of discussion about India’s pace attack combination for this big match. Jasprit Bumrah (3/46 and 1/51), Ishant Sharma (2/26 and 2/36) and Mohammed Shami (2/51 and 4/57) all performed well at Southampton in 2018.
  • Since the start of 2018, Ishant Sharma has been a revelation. His 77 wickets have come at an average of 19.73, and he will be key in this match against New Zealand’s top order.
  • The performances of Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will be key. Jadeja’s batting will be crucial down the order, and Ashwin will be up against three left-handers in New Zealand’s top five. Also, Ashwin has a good record vs Williamson, with five dismissals for 146 runs.

New Zealand:

  • Devon Conway has taken to international cricket like a duck to water. He is coming off a dream series against England, where he struck 200 and 83 in the two Tests.
  • A lot has been made of Kane Williamson’s Test record in England (261 runs, avg. 26.10). Also, Williamson averages just 31.16 in 10 Tests vs India, so NZ fans will be hoping Williamson can overcome these moderate numbers.
  • Ross Taylor has the most runs of any current player in New Zealand-India Tests (812 runs, avg. 33.83).
  • Tim Southee has a fine record against India. In eight Tests, he has taken 39 scalps at a fine average of 24.46. This includes 14 wickets in two games against India in 2020, where he got the better of the likes of Virat Kohli. Also, Southee took a five-for in his last Test vs England.
  • Trent Boult also had a great series vs India in 2020. He took 11 wickets in two Tests at an average of 19.36. Overall, Boult has taken 36 wickets vs India at an average of 29.52, and has 27 wickets at 22.40 in England.
  • Kyle Jamieson has been a revelation for NZ, and his Test career started vs India in 2020 (he took nine wickets in two Tests at an average of 16.33).

Stats and Facts

  • India lost the first Test of their last two Test series – against Australia and England. So, they will need to hit their straps right away in this one-off WTC Final.
  • Rohit Sharma averages of 79.20 in 18 Tests in India. However, this average drops to almost unprecedented levels to 27.00 in 20 Tests everywhere else. His battle against the left-arm swing of Trent Boult and Neil Wagner will be key.
  • The great BJ Watling will be playing his last Test. He averages just 22 against India, but has a century against them, which was scored in a difficult situation. Can New Zealand send him out a winner?
  • India have beaten New Zealand just once in five previous ICC events – a Super Sixes clash at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. 
  • India have played two Tests at Southampton, losing both (in 2014 and 2018).

Possible Playing 11

New Zealand, such is their bench strength, have key decisions to make regarding their bowling attack. They have a plethora of options, with conditions to dictate whether they pick Ajaz Patel over one of the five seam options, which includes Colin de Grandhomme. Given the success of spinners at Southampton in the past – most notably Moeen Ali – New Zealand may be tempted to play Patel to provide variety.

New Zealand: 1. Tom Latham, 2. Devon Conway, 3. Kane Williamson (c), 4. Ross Taylor, 5. Henry Nicholls, 6. BJ Watling (wk), 7. Colin de Grandhomme/Ajaz Patel, 8. Tim Southee, 9. Kyle Jamieson, 10. Neil Wagner, 11. Trent Boult

India have confirmed their playing 11, with both R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja playing. Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have got the nod over Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav.

India: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Shubman Gill, 3. Cheteshwar Pujara, 4. Virat Kohli (c), 5. Ajinkya Rahane, 6. Rishabh Pant (wk), 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. R Ashwin, 9. Ishant Sharma, 10. Mohammed Shami, 11. Jasprit Bumrah

Southampton Pitch Report and Weather

Ah, England. It is always a worry having a game of such magnitude where rain often plays spoilsport. And, it may very well play spoilsport here. The weather forecast looks quite bleak, with showers and overcast conditions forecast right throughout the six days.

In terms of the pitch, head curator Simon Lee promised a pitch with pace, bounce and carry. He also stated that if conditions are dry enough, the surface can take turn. However, with plenty of cloud cover around, one can expect conditions to stay mostly seamer-friendly.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

WTC Final: IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs New Zealand WTC Final Key Players | Southampton Pitch Report
WTC Final: IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

WTC Final: IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs New Zealand WTC Final Key Players | Southampton Pitch Report
WTC Final: IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

One can argue that New Zealand have an edge due to two Test matches played recently, plus their good record vs India overall. However, given the weather forecast, there may not be enough time to force a result, even with another day scheduled. Expecting the World Test Championship mace to be shared.

Kohli vs Williamson: Battle of two contrasting captaincy styles

Tarkesh Jha
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Kohli vs Williamson: Battle of two contrasting captaincy styles

Kohli vs Williamson: Battle of two contrasting captaincy styles | A look at the contrasting captaincy styles of Kohli vs Williamson in the WTC Final

The finale of the World Test Championship (WTC) is going to mark the coming together of two absolutely contrasting captaincy styles in perhaps the biggest stage of the cricketing world. There have been a lot of debates over who is most profound skipper in world cricket currently.

Whether it’s Virat Kohli, who took over the reins of a thoroughly underperforming Indian team in late-2014 and transformed them into becoming actual world-beaters or Kane Williamson whose innate ability to extract the utmost potential from the players available to him put him in a unique pedestal as well.

Nevertheless, regarding off their distinct leadership qualities, there are many other differences between the ways in which the two skippers prefer to captain their sides.

Over the years, Virat hasn’t been averse to making regular changes as he deems fit according to the situation of the game. Sometimes, the call pulls off, sometimes it doesn’t, but that is just the nature of the sport. What it says is that he doesn’t mind adopting horses for courses approach if required, and hence predictability is the least possible trait that one would spot in his captaincy tenure.

On the other hand, Williamson comes across as more of someone who devises his plans early on, prepares a roadmap to move ahead with that strategy and sticks to it even after a few failrures. We aren’t here to judge which method is more plausible, especially given both these men have manages to embrace contrasting techniques and yet carry their team to this particular stage.

Moreover, the fact that Kohli and Williamson will face off against each other at this stage shows that there is place for every kind of captaincy technique in world cricket. Only, though, if you have a credible enough set of men backing you through the thick and thin with an indomitable victorious spirit in testing circumstances.

Kohli’s helm as the skipper has been even more fascinating, considering that he triggered a paradigm shift in Indian cricket with a special focus on developing a battery of terrific pace bowlers. This change has hands down been the most influential factor behind the Indian team’s remarkably improved overseas performances in recent times. A skipper is one whose vision creates the course that his teams follow.

Prior to Kohli’s reign, India never boasted of a credible, holistic pace bowling unit that could challenge the bowlers hailing from the SENA countries. Now, that factor has altered majorly, and if India were to lift the WTC trophy, then this transformation’s credit would have to be attributed majorly to Kohli.

On the other hand, Williamson has somewhat managed to break down the concept of Kiwis floundering their chances in key moments of big tournaments. His astute ability to understand the playing conditions, incredible marshaling of his bowling units and key changes in the bowling lineup towards the concluding stages of the semifinal helped the Kiwis to arguably unexpectedly defeat the Indian unit in the semis of the 2019 World Cup.

Check out CricBlog’s WTC Final coverage, including these great articles by talented writers:

New Zealand’s terrific performance in the finals didn’t go unnoticed either. The world sympathized with them for a result that perhaps went against them due to arguably controversial rules and regulations. Nevertheless, the Kiwis had back then challenged the overwhelming favourites, the English side, until the very final delivery of the contest. That followed by their encouraging performances in the WTC cycle showcase that the team aren’t any pushovers in the big stage anymore.

Possibly, the key to which of these two men leads his team better rests with the one who better manages to separate their individual performance in this big encounter from that of the collective.

In addition to being the skippers, Kohli and Williamson are undoubtedly the most critical cogs in their respective batting lineups. The conditions on offer at Southampton will be challenging to say the least. To a layman, both Kohli and Williamson appear to be the best equipped to deal with the mounting difficulties that they are set to encounter soon.

Irrespective of that, both these players have donned the leader’s cap for long enough to understand and accept the challenges that come with it. The way that they express their emotions on the field might be starkly contrasting.

Yet, both the individuals boast of serious captaincy skills that perhaps even indicate that there’s no one-shoe-fits-all approach in cricket. Each person comes with his own strengths, drawbacks, builds a team around his own vision and executes plans according to what he deems to be the best at that very moment. Whether or not they deliver the desired results is another question. But the process might not be the same for everyone.

Who can explain that better that the two best test captains in the world?

Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter today.

PSL 2021 Match 27: KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Aditya Narsale
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PSL 2021 Match 27: KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

PSL 2021 Match 27: KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Today | Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

With Lahore Qalandars fighting for a top-two finish and Karachi Kings desperate for a win to keep their play-off hopes alive, it is going to be a mouth-watering contest. As we enter the business end of league stages in PSL 2021, it’s time for a blockbuster contest between Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars in match no. 27 of the tournament. 

Karachi Kings have lost three matches in a row while the Lahore Qalandars have gone down in their last two fixtures after a bright start to the Abu Dhabi leg. Following their string of losses, Kings find themselves at No. 5 in the points table with three wins and five defeats from eight games. Lahore Qalandars are better placed at No. 3, with five victories and three losses.

So all the fans will be strictly eyeing on the match 27, which is to be played at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi today. 

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Karachi Kings:

  • Babar Azam: The charismatic right-handed batsman had a rare failure in the previous contest against Peshawar Zalmi as he was dismissed for a golden duck. Kings suffered a dramatic collapse post that and it signifies the importance of Azam in the side. Having scored 424 runs in 8 matches so far, the Pakistan skipper will have to be at his absolute best in this all-important contest.
  • Also, Babar has the most runs in KAR-LAH matches, with 333 at an average of 41.63.
  • Imad Wasim: Karachi Kings’ captain Imad Wasim has had a mixed season in PSL 2021 so far. He has not been able to make too much of an impact with both bat and ball but has chipped in with some valuable contributions. Coming on the back of a good all-round performance where he scored 19 runs and had bowling figures of 2/2, Wasim will need to lead from the front against Qalandars.
  • Mohammad Amir: KAR’s bowling seems to be very dependent on the left arm pacer Amir. The talisman brings a lot of variations through and he will be one of  the most important players in this business end of the tournament.
  • Amir has the most wickets in KAR-LAH matches, with 11 scalps in 10 matches.

Lahore Qalandars:

  • Fakhar Zaman: Fakhar Zaman has been brilliant in some of the games this season. But he needs not to repeat his mistakes. He will be looking forward to score big against KAR like he did the previous time when the respective teams faced. 
  • Fakhar has scored 293 runs (second-most in KAR-LAH matches) at an average of 29.30.
  • James Faulkner: LAH’s new signing James Faulkner has been on a roll since resumption of PSL 2021, having already taken 11 wickets in only 4 appearances for the franchise. The veteran Aussie all-rounder has completely bamboozled the batsmen with his slower ones and back-of-the-hand delivery and will be looking to continue his impressive run of form in this crucial match.
  • Rashid Khan: Rashid Khan started the second leg of PSL 2021 with a couple of impressive spells. He also picked up a five-wicket haul against the Peshawar Zalmi. However, in the last two games, he has been taken for a few runs. Nevertheless, with an economy rate of 5.50, he is the most frugal bowler for the Qalandars. Not to forget that he can get handy runs lower down the order.
  • Tim David: Tim David has managed to make quite an impression in the second half of the tournament. The powerful right-hander, who plays international cricket for Singapore, has so far smashed 136 runs in four innings at an average of 68 and a strike rate of 158.13. David has scores of 23*, 64*, 3 and 46 in this edition and has failed only once with the bat. 

Stats and Facts

  • Head to head : Matches 12 ,Karachi Kings 7 , Lahore Qalandars 5
  • Last 5 matches : Karachi 3 , Lahore 2.
  • The Qalandars have now lost successive games and after another batting collapse, must consider making changes, with Australian batter Callum Ferguson surely in the frame to come into the side.
  • Still Karachi can reach the eliminator match, although they will almost certainly need to win their last two games, so may need to look at switching the lineup up in a bid to turn their fortunes around.

Possible Playing 11

Karachi Kings: 1. Sharjeel Khan 2. Babar Azam 3. Martin Guptill 4. Chadwick Walton (wk), 5. Najibullah Zadran, 6. Imad Wasim (C), 7. Aamer Yamin, 8. Abbas Afridi, 9. Waqas Maqsood, 10. Mohammad Amir, 11. Noor Ahmad

Lahore Qalandars: 1. Fakhar Zaman, 2. Sohail Akhtar (C), 3. Zeeshan Ashraf, 4. Mohammad Hafeez, 5. Ben Dunk (wk), 6. Tim David, 7. Rashid Khan, 8.James Faulkner, 9. Ahmad Daniyal, 10. Shaheen Afridi, 11. Haris Rauf

Sheikh Zayed Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather Report

With this being the second PSL 2021 game of the day, the pitch could be slower than usual, bringing the bowlers into play. Apart from getting some movements with the new ball, the pacers should also be able to extract extra bounce off the surface. Although the spinners will find it difficult to grip the ball, they will play a crucial role in the middle overs. 170 should be par at the venue, with dew likely to play a huge role in the proceedings.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

PSL 2021 Match 27: KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Today | Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
PSL 2021 Match 27: KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

PSL 2021 Match 27: KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Today | Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
PSL 2021 Match 27: KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

This is a duel between two misfiring batting units in recent matches with Karachi Kings in particular in must win territory following their horrible turn of form since the resumption of the Pakistan Super League. However, facing a bowling attack consisting of Afghanistan spin-bowling superstar Rashid Khan and Pakistan international fast bowler Shaheen Afridi doesn’t bode well for Imad Wasim’s side here. Providing Karachi opener Babar Azam is dismissed relatively early on and the batters of Lahore Qalandars play sensibly without suffering a collapse of wickets within a short time period, then Sohail Akhtar’s men should come out on top.

Written by Aditya Narsale. Follow Aditya on Twitter today.

WTC Final: 5 key factors that can determine the result

Tarkesh Jha
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WTC Final: 5 key factors that can determine the result

WTC Final: 5 key factors that can determine the outcome of the game | Who will achieve a positive WTC Final result? 5 key factors that will determine result

Outcomes of major events such as the finale of the World Test Championship (WTC) are drawn from factors more than one. A variety of reasons come together to hand over the trophy to the deserving victor, and it is not as black and white as generalists would like to conform it to.

Several intricate elements are set to combine and thereby determine the eventual champion of the first edition of the WTC. Both these sides lack neither talent nor do they require any recognition as such. But here, we attempt to elaborate on certain very key factors that will have a huge role to play behind the final result of much-anticipated contest.

Contribution of Indian openers

Any successful Test team massively relies on the solid foundation provided by their opening pair. Moreover, conditions in England demand the openers to display some solid character, which can shield the coming batsmen from the initial bout of the wrath of the moving ball. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will have quite a challenge in front of them considering that the Kiwi pacers will be well-versed with the conditions on offer.

Rohit doesn’t boast of the best of records in seaming conditions but his overall game has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years. He has honed the tendency to dig it out initially and capitalize on the same to notch a big total afterward. Shubman, with all his class and quality, isn’t riding on the best of forms as of now. Yet, both of them are perfectly capable of carrying out the said task and the Indians will be banking on them to do it well.

Also read: Is the opening combination a concern for India in the WTC Final?

How do the big guns perform?

This is the showpiece event of the inaugural WTC, and is bound to host some remarkably prodigious players. Commeth the hour, commeth the man is saying that goes along in cricket as well as anywhere else. The likes of Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult will be attracting all the gazes though the inputs and performances of the other players will be just as equal.

Yet, teams rely on the best of players to bail them out of adverse situations and hence the input of the aforementioned individuals becomes all the way more important for the coming game.

They have the ability to completely dictate the terms of the game, and win it on their own, as clichéd as it may sound. Will the big guns step up? They absolutely have to as the whole cricketing world will have their eyes set on this particular encounter. The stakes don’t get bigger than this, especially in the whites.

The wicketkeepers’ battle

A champion: Top 5 Test knocks of BJ Watling | Looking at the top knocks of keeper-batsman BJ Watling in Test cricket for New Zealand
WTC Final result: BJ Watling will be playing his final Test match.

Both Rishabh Pant and BJ Watling’s prominence in their respective Test teams has grown significantly in the last few years. Moreover, the two individuals possess such contrasting playing styles and still continue to hold the key for their team’s success in this championship.

Pant, renowned for his swashbuckling style of play, has holistically improved in the last year to become an irreplaceable asset to the Indian team. On the other hand, Watling’s innate ability to save his side from precarious situations and do it ever so consistently deserves as much praise as well. Down the order, these two men will be in-charge of holding the lower-middle order together.

Their wicket-keeping skills are surely going to be put to Test especially if there is some assistance to the pacers. Pant and Watling have been critical to their respective team’s journey to the WTC finale and they will be absolutely instrumental in Southampton too.

Will New Zealand edge ahead with prior match practice?

The Kiwis played a couple of Test matches vs England ahead of the WTC finale. How much will adequate match practice with top-quality opposition right before the start of the WTC final benefit them in the all-critical encounter?

New Zealand achieved an excellent 1-0 series win – their first in England since 1999. They had the better of both Tests, with the second match in particular a great show of New Zealand’s depth. To achieve a positive WTC Final result, New Zealand will be hoping they can build on their two Test matches vs England.

Who manages to hold onto their nerves till the end?

At the end, at this stage, the ability to hold your nerves in the most delicate of circumstances determines your luck more than anything else. See, these two sides have made it to the final of the WTC because they boast of some seriously incredible quality in their ranks. Yet, the side that will be lifting the trophy will have much more than sheer talent in its roster.

That particular team will boast of a fighting spirit bar none, a tenacious attitude to work around alien conditions, the smartness to capitalize on the shortest of openings and finally the composure to keep its head in the right place as the game enters its decisive stages.

Both India and the Kiwis haven’t done particularly well in knockout events in recent times. But, the Indian team showed some unparalleled character in the tour to Australia late last year. If they hold on to that kind of spirit, we all are in for one memorable ride from June 18th onward!

Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter today.

5 areas of concern for India ahead of the WTC Final

Debashish Sarangi
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5 areas of concern for India ahead of the WTC Final

5 areas of concern for India ahead of the WTC Final | We look at 5 key areas of concern for Team India in the WTC Final against New Zealand

After two years of rigorous contests between 9 teams on the cricket field, we have finally found the top two sides in India and New Zealand, who will lock horns with each other in the much awaited final of the first ever World Test Championship (WTC). This historic face off is going to take place at Southampton and promises to be a belter of a contest.

While New Zealand are boosted with confidence after their recent series victory against England, India are going to play their first Test on the English soil after almost 3 years and hence are expected to face certain challenges against the Kiwis in the Final. In this article, I am going to mention five such areas of concern for the Indian team ahead of the WTC final. Here we go.

Inexperience of Openers in English conditions

Opening the batting in England is a big task as you have to be technically solid and your feet movements have to be decisive against the ever-moving Dukes ball. There are some things a batsman needs to adopt in order to be successful in tackling the new ball in England, which he gets with the experience of playing in English conditions.

But, if I talk about the Indian openers, Rohit Sharma has played just a single Test in England back in 2014, whereas Shubman Gill is yet to play an international match in England. Facing bowlers like Southee, Boult and Jamieson with little experience of the English conditions is definitely not going to be an easy task for the Indian openers.

Form of Virat Kohli in WTC cycle

Virat Kohli has dominated world cricket for more than a decade, but he wasn’t at his absolute best in the WTC. Although he has scored 877 runs at a decent average of 43.85, his average since the New Zealand tour is a mere 24. He had a horrible outing in New Zealand and although he hit 3 half centuries in his next 8 Test innings, his inconsistency with the bat was evident. He is the most important batsman for India in England as he scored almost 25 percent of India’s runs in their tour back in 2018. So, if he continues his abysmal run with the bat, it will definitely create some huge concerns for team India in the final of this mega event.

Psychological pressure of playing against the Kiwis

India’s record against New Zealand hasn’t been encouraging in the recent past. They lost the 2019 World Cup semi final against New Zealand and were later beaten badly in the ODIs and Tests in New Zealand in 2020. Talking about the ICC events, India have never won a single match against the Kiwis since their meeting in the 2003 World Cup Super Sixes. So, definitely there will be some psychological pressure of facing New Zealand in an all important final as the demons of the New Zealand tour would be playing in the minds of the Indian players.

Selection dilemma

Although the top 6 of the Indian batting order is almost sorted, there is some confusion regarding the bowling line up. Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been integral parts of the Indian team throughout the WTC cycle. Jadeja has developed his batting to the core and has scored some priceless runs for the team in crunch situations. Further, he is always valuable with the ball and is probably the most important member of the fielding unit. So, his place is almost certain in the XI.

But, looking at the weather forecast of Southampton which predicts rain, India might get tempted to go with four seamers potentially leaving R Ashwin out. But, it won’t be an easy call as it seems, because Ashwin also has been a phenomenal match winner for India over the years and is their most successful bowler in the WTC cycle.

Secondly, Mohammed Siraj has the variations that might prove to be instrumental in English conditions. He swings the ball, can bowl with a wobbled seam, has a good nip backer as well as a mean bouncer. So, India might get tempted to include him in the XI, but the question is whom they would drop in that case. These are the certain questions before the Indian management heading to the final.

India’s recent record in England

Last time India won a Test series in England was back in 2007. After that, they have lost 11 Tests and won just 2 on English soil. These facts indicate that the Indian team doesn’t really enjoy playing in England. Also, India have lost both their Tests in Southampton, where the final is scheduled to be played. So, this is definitely an added disadvantage on their side.

There is no doubt regarding India’s prowess as a brilliant Test side, but these are certain concerns they need to address before the final against a strong New Zealand side.

Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today. 

WTC Finals: 3 unlikely players who can impact the game

Tarkesh Jha
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WTC Finals: 3 unlikely players who can impact the game

WTC Finals: 3 unlikely players who can impact the game | Looking at three unlikely players who could significantly impact the WTC Final

India and New Zealand are set to face each other for the showpiece encounter of the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) at Southampton from 18th June onward. Both teams have endured their own set of challenges before making their way to the final stages of this prestigious tournament.

The match is bound to attract some terrific traction owing to the quality of players set to take part in it – from the likes of Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Ross Taylor, Ajinkya Rahane to several othes. There must be many dibs as to who could turn out to be decisive performer for either of the teams in the encounter.

However, here we attempt to look at players who might miss people’s attention when they look forward to this big game. Yet, these individuals can prospectively turn the tides of the forthcoming finale, quite unexpectedly. Without further ado, let us elaborate on them.

Shubman Gill

Rohit Sharma’s struggles against the moving ball are well documented over the years. The Kiwi pacers are expected to be on the money right from the word go, especially considering that they will be playing in conditions slightly familiar to the one that they are accustomed to back home.

In that case, India will need Shubman Gill to provide a solid start right at the top, in order to prevent the Indian batting order from faltering apart early on in the innings. Gill had a splendid series vs Australia, where his contributions were probably overshadowed by the extraordinary brilliance of Rishabh Pant.

Then, he had a very underwhelming run against England at home. However, with the class that he possesses, Gill has shown Down Under that he can very well upstage his game according to the magnitude of the situation. Whilst the Kiwis focus on the likes of Rohit, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, Shubman Gill could well sneak in to make an impactful contribution in the game.

BJ Watling

WTC Finals: 3 unlikely players who can impact the game | Looking at three unlikely players who could significantly impact the WTC Final
WTC Finals: 3 unlikely players who can impact the game – BJ Watling

BJ Watling has carved an incredible name for himself in recent years with his study, consistent performances down the order for New Zealand. His is a name that often tends to go under the radar when one looks at the incredibly talented Kiwi batting order.

However, Watling has over the years shown some tremendous character to bail his team out of tricky situations. Moreover, he has developed an innate ability to guide the innings with tail-enders, something that could come to haunt the Indian bowling unit. Indian bowlers have often fallen short in quickly wrapping up the lower order of the opposition, thus enabling them to run away with the innings.

The Virat Kohli-led side has improved leaps and bounds on this factor in recent times. Yet, they must ensure that they are as ruthless and efficient with the tail as they are with the Kiwi top order; else, Watling can slyly take a very critical game out of India’s hands. 

Ishant Sharma

WTC Finals: 3 unlikely players who can impact the game | Looking at three unlikely players who could significantly impact the WTC Final
WTC Finals: 3 unlikely players who can impact the game – Ishant Sharma

Experience comes in extremely handy in high-pressure matches like this one. With 101 Test matches under his belt, Ishant Sharma will be raring to perform well in probably the most important game of his career in whites so far.

Jasprit Bumrah’s sheer excellence coupled with Mohammed Shami’s terrific seam bowling and wicket-taking ability tend to eclipse the key role that Ishant carries out in the bowling unit. His ability to bowl long spells, maintain consistent line and lengths and strike absolutely critical wickets at crucial moments are largely underrated in world cricket.

Moreover, he has the ability to tweak his strategies according to the demands of the situation too, something that only seasoned players manage to execute perfectly in challenging circumstances.

The conditions at offer in Southampton will demand a tenacious, consistent approach from the bowlers. Ishant has honed those skills in abundance in the recent years and could perhaps have the key to India’s prospective success in the WTC Finals.

Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter today.

PSL 2021 Match 25: MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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PSL 2021 Match 25: MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

PSL 2021 Match 25: MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction | Multan Sultans vs Quetta Gladiators Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

Stop the press. Quetta Gladiators picked up a superb victory yesterday against one of the favourites in Lahore Qalanders to keep their distant playoff hopes alive. Jake Weatherald, who made his second 40+ score in three games, led the way with the bat as Khurram Shahzad and Usman Khan Shinwari took three wickets each to defend their score of 158.

Yesterday’s result certainly makes this one an interesting clash. Multan Sultans sit two points ahead of the Gladiators, but still have some breathing room due to Quetta’s horrendous net run rate of -1.467. Nonetheless, they will be after a strong display here as they can move two points clear of the struggling Karachi Kings and take one huge step towards the playoffs in the process. They have won both their matches in the UAE leg of PSL 2021 so far, and will be confident in their ability to make it three in a row.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Multan Sultans:

  • Mohammad Rizwan is in scintillating touch. The star keeper-batsman needs 17 runs to overtake Babar Azam as PSL 2021’s top run-scorer (currently Rizwan has 408 runs at an average of 68 and strike rate of 140.20). He has scored 29 (23) and 82* (56) in the UAE leg so far.
  • Also, Rizwan scored 66 off 50 balls vs Gladiators earlier in PSL 2021.
  • Rilee Rossouw has enjoyed success against Gladiators. He has a century to his name against them (2 inns, 103 runs, SR 198.08). He also scored a 24-ball 44 in his first game after the PSL restart.
  • Sohaib Maqsood is coming off an incredible 31-ball 61 against Zalmi three days ago. He also scored 31 (14) in the game before against Karachi. Dangerous player.
  • Shahnawaz Dhani was player of the match in Sultans’ last game. He took 4/31 against Zalmi, in addition to the 3/44 he took against Quetta earlier this season.
  • Imran Tahir has the most wickets in MUL-QUE matches. He has taken eight wickets in just four matches. Key bowler.

Quetta Gladiators:

  • Jake Weatherald has made scores of 43, 13 and 48 since the PSL 2021 restart. Given that Faf du Plessis is unlikely to play and Andre Russell is no longer in the squad, Weatherald will be key again.
  • Usman Khan scored a duck yesterday, but he comes up against a team whom he enjoyed success against. He hit 81 (50) against Multan earlier in PSL 2021.
  • Sarfaraz Ahmed has scored the third-most runs of any player in PSL 2021 (8 inns, 257 runs, avg. 42.83, SR 139.67). However, Quetta will be hoping the skipper improves on a poor record vs Multan which reads: 4 inns, 47 runs, avg. 15.67, SR 92.16.
  • Usman Shinwari was excellent yesterday, providing Quetta with much-needed spark (3/32). Khurram Shahzad was also terrific, taking 3/14.
  • Mohammad Nawaz has six wickets in six games against Multan, and is coming off 2/16 yesterday against Lahore.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 7, Multan Sultans 2, Quetta Gladiators 4, NR 1.
  • One of Quetta’s two wins came against Multan, back in the Karachi leg of PSL 2021.
  • A win for Multan today officially knocks Quetta out of the tournament.

Possible Playing 11

Multan Sultans: 1. Shan Masood, 2. Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), 3. Sohaib Maqsood, 4. Rilee Rossouw, 5. Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Khushdil Shah, 7. Sohail Tanvir, 8. Blessing Muzarabani, 9. Shahnawaz Dhani, 10. Imran Khan, 11. Imran Tahir

Quetta Gladiators: 1. Jake Weatherald, 2. Usman Khan, 3. Cameron Delport, 4. Sarfaraz Ahmed (c & wk), 5. Azam Khan, 6. Mohammad Nawaz, 7. Hassan Khan, 8. Usman Shinwari, 9. Zahoor Khan, 10. Mohammad Hasnain, 11. Khurram Shahzad 

Sheikh Zayed Stadium Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather

The average first innings score in the 10 PSL 2021 matches at Abu Dhabi is 159.30. The team batting first has won six of those matches, but the inconsistencies remain with regards to batting scores. For example, Islamabad are firing, but teams like Karachi aren’t. So, the top orders will be key.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

PSL 2021 Match 25: MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction | Multan Sultans vs Quetta Gladiators Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
PSL 2021 Match 25: MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

PSL 2021 Match 25: MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction | Multan Sultans vs Quetta Gladiators Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
PSL 2021 Match 25: MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

Quetta have a fine record vs Multan. However, to have their best chance of winning here, they must overcome the Sultans top order. Should be an interesting clash.

Opinion: NZ should go with this attack for WTC Final

Vaibhav Tripathi
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Opinion: NZ should go with this attack for WTC Final

Opinion: NZ should go with this attack for WTC Final | Looking at the bowling combination New Zealand should go with for the WTC Final

We’re just a few days away from the grand finale of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) between India and New Zealand at Rose Bowl, Southampton.

The build-up to the all-important final has already bought a lot of excitement among the fans. India have started with their preparations while New Zealand are coming off a historic series win over England. Both the camps are travelling with a big contingent and have few selection dilemmas which they need to fix before taking the field on June 18.

On Tuesday (June 15), New Zealand announced a strong-looking 15-member squad which cleared many things. Ajaz Patel has been named as the specialist spinner in the squad after his impressive show in the second Test against England at Edgbaston. Mitchell Santner, the other spinning option, has been left out of the 15-man squad. Colin de Grandhomme’s return spiced up the debate for the final XI as he missed out on the Edgbaston Test.

Kane Williamson-led New Zealand’s batting is pretty much sorted with no changes expected in the top 6. The race is between the bowlers to make the final cut. New Zealand have the luxury of quality seam bowling options in Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Neil Wagner, Matt Henry, and with the addition of Ajaz as a front line spinning option there could well be a possibility that New Zealand have to rechalk their selection plans for the epic final.

Considering the conditions which will be on offer in Southampton, let us have a look at the best bowling attack for New Zealand in the WTC final.

Tim Southee

The veteran fast-bowler is the leader of New Zealand’s bowling attack. Southee is one of the best bowlers when the ball is moving and in seam-friendly English conditions, he is certainly going to pose a huge challenge to the Indian batting group. The last time he bowled in whites he bagged a five-wicket haul at the home of cricket, Lord’s. New Zealand would be hoping for big returns from their most experienced bowler in the group. He’s been the most successful bowler for his nation in the WTC cycle as he picked 51 wickets in only 10 matches at an average of 20.66. His battle against Kohli in particular will be key.

Trent Boult

Embed from Getty Images

Southee’s partner in crime, Trent Boult, brings variety into the attack with his left-arm angle. The ability to move the new ball at a good pace is what Boult brings to this side with lots of international cricket experience behind his back. The left-arm pacers have always been a nightmare for the Indian batsmen, irrespective of what the format is. Trent Boult’s swinging deliveries against the top 5 right-hand batsmen of the Indian eleven, – especially Rohit Sharma – will be a sight to watch for all the fans around the world.

Kyle Jamieson

Opinion: NZ should go with this attack for WTC Final | Looking at the bowling combination New Zealand should go with for the WTC Final

Jamieson has been the find for New Zealand since his Test debut in 2020. He has 39 scalps in seven Tests at a staggering average of 15.15, including four 5-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul. He adds value with the bat as well and can get you quick runs in the lower order. Jamieson can swing it both ways and with the towering height being an advantage of his, he can cause some serious damage to a strong Indian team. There are no doubts whatsoever that Jamieson will be the third seamer of the team and is a sure starter alongside Southee and Boult for the Blackcaps on June 18.

Neil Wagner

Opinion: NZ should go with this attack for WTC Final | Looking at the bowling combination New Zealand should go with for the WTC Final

It all comes down to the selection of the fourth seam bowling option and it is going to be a tough decision for New Zealand management. Matt Henry was the man of the match in the last Test at Edgbaston but he’s unlikely to get a nod ahead of Neil Wagner.

Wagner has been the workhorse for New Zealand. The Test specialist is one of the rare breeds of bowlers who can give 9-11 overs in one spell. He’s one kind of bowler every captain wants in his team, as he brings something extra to this New Zealand side. The left-arm pacer is a strong character and has shown that he has the skills to get wickets with Dukes. His tried-and-tested method is going short at the batsman and can certainly turn the tides in the blink of an eye. He has shown in the second Test in Birmingham that he can swing the ball and operate effectively in a more conventional role, too.

Ajaz Patel

The lone spinner in New Zealand’s 15-man group for the WTC final is expected to make the cut due to the nature of the Southampton wicket. Southampton in the last few years has offered dry wickets which assist the spinners and if the trend continues, then Ajaz will hold on to his place in the XI.

Ajaz is coming off a good game time at Edgbaston where he bagged a few wickets, and this very performance took him ahead of Mitchell Santner in the race to make it to the WTC Final squad. The Indian batsmen have never faced Ajaz and with five right-handers set to be in India’s top 5, the Blackcaps first-choice spinner could well present a fresh challenge to Virat Kohli’s men if the pitch plays true to character.

Possible Swaps:

Colin de Grandhomme makes their batting order more formidable and is relentless with the ball in seam-friendly conditions. He can play the role of the fourth seamer, if the track is doing a bit too much then he can come in for Ajaz Patel or Neil Wagner.

Chances of precipitation are there for the one-off final and this could well tempt the Kiwis to back their traditional strength and play both Wagner and de Grandhomme, thus leaving out Ajaz Patel.

Predicted playing XI of NZ for WTC Final:

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

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