The World Test Championship Final 2021

First topic message reminder :

The World Test Championship has been something that many of us wanted for a long time, it took time to materialize, and in the middle changed the point system as the pandemic struck. There are imperfections and work need to be done to make more rounded. But it is a great initiative for the truest format. And I feel it merits a separat thread, outside the Rest of the World stuff...
India and New Zealand will be contesting for the first Championship title from 18th June. Both these sides have had some impressive success on way to the final. India's series win against Australia has to be their performance of the cycle, while New Zealand had a fine home record and then they capped it with a first series win in more than 20 years in England just before the final.
Both the sides have also shown some fine bench strength in recent times. India won in Australia effectively without Kohli, and for parts of the series, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Ishant Sharma who couldn't even make it to the touring party as he was injured. Jadeja and Shami were unavailable for their home series win against England as well. In their absence, Mohammad Siraj, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shubman Gill, Shardul Thakur, all emerged and Gill has become first choice and Siraj has become first choice squad at the very least. All the original first choice players are now available in the extended squad.
As for New Zealand, their most recent test win, a demolition job on England was achieved with the world number one test batter and their skipper Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson and BJ Watling. Devon Conwy has emerged and has suggested tha he has it in him to solve a major problem New Zealand have had even during this winning run, that of a partner for Tom Latham. Will Young's emergence indicates that even if the 37 year old Ross Taylor decides to move on, they have options. Matthew Henry and Douglas Bracewell are very capable first reserves with a taste of and some success in test cricket, and in Tom Blundell, they have an able replacement for the retiring BJ Watling behind the stumps.
This strong bench strength also introduces some selection dilemmas for both sides as far as the final is concerned. Will it be Ashwin and Jadeja both for India? Will it be the first choice attack of Bumrah, Shami and Ishant, or will Siraj make it ahead of Ishant? Or will they go in with all 4 with Jadeja batting 7?
Will New Zealand bench one of their established pace quartet to include a spinner? Or will they play all 4 and the skippr himself take on the spin bowling responsibilities? Or will young Rachin Ravindra be given a surprise debut in the all-rounder slot? If they decide to bench one of the pacers, who would that be? Jamieson is the least experienced of the group but he has fine success against India. Southee and Boult have primed themselves quite fine leading up to the match. Neil Wagner did lack a bit of rhythm in the England series but finished it pretty well. Will be a very tough call for Williamson.
There is a lot exciting in the build-up to the game itself. Hope it will produce great excitement in terms of the actual cricket, like the last ICC event final!

Just doesn't look like its going to be Pant's day. Absolutely indecisive, and the middle of the bat just not interested in meeting the ball.

Jamieson is a real handful in these conditions, interested to see how he does outside of England and New Zealand.

msp83 wrote:It is the runs scored, and not scored by the lower orders that is deciding things here.

Well India's two spinners can both really bat. Might have to today...

Fabulous first hour for New Zealand. Two telling blows from Jamieson getting rid of Kohli and Pujara. Only 25 runs added. India's last 3 can't be expected to do much with the bat though Kohli hopefully wouldn't send Bumrah averaging 2.5 ahead of Mohammed Shami this time round.

alfie wrote:

msp83 wrote:It is the runs scored, and not scored by the lower orders that is deciding things here.

Well India's two spinners can both really bat. Might have to today...

Jadeja surely can bat very well and is India's best bet at 7. Ashwin recently rediscovered his batting mojo. But its about the last 3 alfie, the seamers just aren't up to it with the bat.

Jamieson continuing pass the first hour. Why wouldn't he!?

Kohli failing in another ICC final, is it

Its Wagner ahead of Boult... Think Boult might be taking over from Jamieson if they manage to take the ball off the lad's hands!

Southee..great spells with the ball
Game changing Cameo with the bat
But Has he delivred
" Son you dropped the Cup Moment"

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Kohli failing in another ICC final, is it

Kohli's ICC Final numbers are obviously indicating that. If it really becomes a discourse, Kohli is the type of person who would take it very seriously indeed!
Kohli hasn't looked in Top form for a while now. He has been contributing, but the big scores, the hundreds haven't been coming along...

KP_fan wrote:Southee..great spells with the ball
Game changing Cameo with the bat
But Has he delivred
" Son you dropped the Cup Moment"

The way Pant is going about things, I wouldn't say that yet. He has managed to get a way a couple of nice shots but is still looking rather uncomfortable out there.

Wagner's fired up. This is a testing spell.

The other thing is that Rahane is continuing to play rather than avoid the short ball. He has been in reasonable control so far, but it is a high risk strategy...

Pant really going for it...High risk plan. If it comes off he might set NZ back on their heels ; but I wonder if he's going to get away with charging Wagner too often...ball is still moving.

Next half hour might be the most important of the match.

msp83 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:Southee..great spells with the ball
Game changing Cameo with the bat
But Has he delivred
" Son you dropped the Cup Moment"

The way Pant is going about things, I wouldn't say that yet. He has managed to get a way a couple of nice shots but is still looking rather uncomfortable out there.

he doesn't need a 155.....but 55 today to take the game away
No will be comfortable....chance your arm with percentage risks

Both Indian batters seem to have decided runs on the board is the first priority. Pant anyways plays like that, Rahane bordering on the reckless though, having a go at balls really away from his reach.
And now he's gone! Boult with the strike...

Rahane gone cheaply just as India's counter-attack seemed to be bubbling. Soft dismissal.

This is it, New Zealand, the game's in your grasp.

Not really sure what Pant's doing out there. Even if he blasts a quick 30-40 it won't be enough, he needs to bat time.

unlucky Rahane...just as Ind was getting nose ahead

msp83 wrote:

alfie wrote:

msp83 wrote:It is the runs scored, and not scored by the lower orders that is deciding things here.

Well India's two spinners can both really bat. Might have to today...

Jadeja surely can bat very well and is India's best bet at 7. Ashwin recently rediscovered his batting mojo. But its about the last 3 alfie, the seamers just aren't up to it with the bat.

Well that's a given . Ishant can hang around but certainly the last three aren't likely to add too many.

Need big innings from Jadeja and/or Ashwin now as Rahane is strangled off Boult ...

NZ have one hand on the Cup.

That's 2 soft dismissals for Rahane in the test. At very crucial times too. Irresponsible from Kohli's deputy!

Rahane hasn't been in great form for a while now, feels like he's nearing the end of his international career.

Might be six down...

No...missing leg and all India breathes again

As he developed into a proper batter, Ravindra Jadeja has started trusting his defense a lot more. How is he going to play this though? Remaining positive without being reckless is the key, can Jadeja manage that? Pant is now starting to go for everything. Will be fun if it lasts, but he's now well into the reckless zone, so rather unlikely.

KP_fan wrote:unlucky Rahane...just as Ind was getting nose ahead

Getting nose ahead might be overstating it a bit...

Lead is still only 84 and you'd think NZ would be comfortable enough chasing 150. But certainly Pant has injected some life into the innings , which had been dying on its feet.

Needs to keep this counterattack going.

alfie wrote:

KP_fan wrote:unlucky Rahane...just as Ind was getting nose ahead

Getting nose ahead might be overstating it a bit...

Lead is still only 84 and you'd think NZ would be comfortable enough chasing 150. But certainly Pant has injected some life into the innings , which had been dying on its feet.

Needs to keep this counterattack going.

110-4 with pant going like he is and Rahane at other end was getting nose ahead

150-5 would make it nose ahead again

he has done his finger....dislocated
Hope that doesn't impact his batting

Nose ahead? India aren't winning this. They either bat long enough/score enough for a draw, or they get bowled out with the Kiwis able to knock off a comfortable target in good time.

Now Watling might be injured. Would be a terrible way for his test career to end.

Soul Requiem wrote:Rahane hasn't been in great form for a while now, feels like he's nearing the end of his international career.

Ind's prolific big 3 i.e Kohli rahane & Pujara aren't averaging 50+ types anymore
but rather 35 to 40ish type at best

It will be hard to keep Vihari and Washington out for long...Pujara will be first to make room for them , perhaps Vihari

What has gotten into Jadeja's head? Running mad out there, when he has been the most assured of India's batters so far in this innings.

NZ has had a strange bowling quota
first hour two right armers...and second hour 2 left arm

no rotation

KP_fan wrote:

alfie wrote:

KP_fan wrote:unlucky Rahane...just as Ind was getting nose ahead

Getting nose ahead might be overstating it a bit...

Lead is still only 84 and you'd think NZ would be comfortable enough chasing 150. But certainly Pant has injected some life into the innings , which had been dying on its feet.

Needs to keep this counterattack going.

110-4 with pant going like he is and Rahane at other end was getting nose ahead

150-5 would make it nose ahead again

Fair enough. Opinions will differ. Pant is certainly "going" : but he looks as if he might get out any ball . Jadeja looks OK so this stand may indeed halt the NZ advance. 150/5 - if it happens - would give them a bit to think about.
Lot of overs left in the day.

73 overs left, will lose two for the changeover. Strong session for New Zealand, they need one more good hour to win this one. Southee's drop may yet prove pivotal, even after Jamieson's brilliant start.

KP_fan wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:Rahane hasn't been in great form for a while now, feels like he's nearing the end of his international career.

Ind's prolific big 3 i.e Kohli rahane & Pujara aren't averaging 50+ types anymore
but rather 35 to 40ish type at best

It will be hard to keep Vihari and Washington out for long...Pujara will be first to make room for them , perhaps Vihari

With Kohli, think it is a passing blip. But with Pujara and Rahane, seems its more permanent. Still class acts and might be able to stretch a bit more. And when they go, hope it will be someone like young Devdutt Padikkal and Yashasvi Jaiswal who will come in take their place. Nothing against Vihari, but he surely doesn't look like a number 3 test bat. Perhaps he can come in for Rahane somewhere down the line.

Duty281 wrote:Nose ahead? India aren't winning this. They either bat long enough/score enough for a draw, or they get bowled out with the Kiwis able to knock off a comfortable target in good time.

Now Watling might be injured. Would be a terrible way for his test career to end.

Agree on all counts. Though it could happen that NZ have a frenetic charge for victory rather than a comfortable stroll , depending just how long India bat. We can amuse ourselves with permutations over the break

Lunch now so Watling can at least get some treatment. 73 overs left.

That drop of Pant looking more and more like the game altering moment for New Zealand - you have to think if they'd taken that, they could be on the verge of victory, now he's taking the game away with them (I know Duty has noted about batting time, but more runs = more time too!)

As has been the recent trend, the over rate remains poor.
We can still fall short of overs here right? Need to get in 15 overs in the last hour come what may is the rule?

and in the second hour although they got Rahane.....they didn't really look like getting a wicket

msp83 wrote:As has been the recent trend, the over rate remains poor.
We can still fall short of overs here right? Need to get in 15 overs in the last hour come what may is the rule?

I believe Nasser said on commentary the overs will be bowled no matter how long it takes, like a usual day five game.

With Jamieson back on and Pant in the middle, every ball seems like an event.

Duty281 wrote:

msp83 wrote:As has been the recent trend, the over rate remains poor.
We can still fall short of overs here right? Need to get in 15 overs in the last hour come what may is the rule?

I believe Nasser said on commentary the overs will be bowled no matter how long it takes, like a usual day five game.

Will the light hold?

msp83 wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

msp83 wrote:As has been the recent trend, the over rate remains poor.
We can still fall short of overs here right? Need to get in 15 overs in the last hour come what may is the rule?

I believe Nasser said on commentary the overs will be bowled no matter how long it takes, like a usual day five game.

Will the light hold?

Should do, sunshine forecast for the rest of the day.

Jadeja has been very composed other than those early bits of running, but Wagner's short balls seem to be disturbing that composure... He has been leaving well so far, but having taken a couple on the body, he seems to want to take the short ball on.

and NZ are not looking to take wickets now.....but rather contain

Duty281 wrote:

msp83 wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

msp83 wrote:As has been the recent trend, the over rate remains poor.
We can still fall short of overs here right? Need to get in 15 overs in the last hour come what may is the rule?

I believe Nasser said on commentary the overs will be bowled no matter how long it takes, like a usual day five game.

Will the light hold?

Should do, sunshine forecast for the rest of the day.

Except that with this glacial over rate it might still get too dark by the time they get ninety plus overs in

This partnership edging India towards safety ; but with their last three a wicket now would...

And there it is ! Wagner strikes. Six down , lead 110.

Wagner has been troubling Jadeja with the short ball, and now he gets him to edge one to Watling! India's most assured batter of the innings is gone. at 110-6 effectively, the doors are opened again for the New Zealanders.

Wagner besieged Jadeja with that series of deliveries, before and after lunch, eventually it works. Test cricket at its best.

Cunning New Zealand. Patient New Zealand. Victorious New Zealand?

Just as Ind was getting their nose in front Jadeja falls
Unintelligent cricket from Jadeja to fall for the leg side short pitch trap
Juts like in the first inning too....he took single of 2nd ball...gave Ishant the strike and the last 3 wickets fell like a pack of cards

Ashwin need to put a 40 run stand now with Pant

India need Ashwin to do a job now. Still a lot of overs left in the day...one more wicket and the real tail is exposed.

Game certainly not dying tamely. At least not yet.

Pant might now want to go into absolute overdrive. He should still remain sensible so long as Ashwin's there.

New Zealand happy to give Pant the single. They know one more here means 3 more pretty soon.