India spinner additionally thinks New Zealand will come into WTC closing ‘with a bonus’, having performed England in England within the lead-in
“If I may say this, it has to be the most exciting part of playing Test cricket. In all these years, it never happened – we’ve never played a team in a neutral venue,” Ashwin stated on bcci.television. “But I think going forward, maybe the WTC could add context this way, [by having] two teams playing away from their home and sort of bringing the whole ebbs and flows of the game.”
The WTC’s first version ran a two-year cycle beginning in 2019. As per the unique construction devised by the ICC, every staff was to play six bilateral series, three at house and three away. To make every match count, points have been handed out for each match, with the highest two groups on the points desk contesting a one-off closing. The closing of the primary version between India and New Zealand will occur in Southampton, a neutral venue, and Ashwin stated it might add extra to the standard of the event if the related bilateral series took the same route.
India can be heading into this WTC closing with much less recreation time within the lead-up than New Zealand, who’re presently taking part in the second Test of a two-match series towards England in England. While the first game was truncated because of the climate and a number of senior gamers have been rested for the second, the exercise in English situations ought to provide New Zealand a bonus.
“I expect a very well-planned and well-knit New Zealand team to come at us,” Ashwin stated. “Obviously having played two Tests, they will definitely come in with an advantage. So we have to adapt to that.”
“Experience always works, doesn’t matter what the result is, especially in Tests, when you know about the conditions and the type of situations that will come,” Shami stated. “The wickets, the wind, [all of it]. So it helps when you come back to such conditions.”
“When you bowl in India, after the new ball you get reverse-swing,” Sharma stated. “When you play here, your length becomes fuller because the ball swings. Adjusting to that length is not easy. It takes a lot of effort. Because the weather is cooler here and it takes time to acclimatise.
“Somebody must take the accountability to take care of the ball, to take care of the shine and every little thing. And after that every little thing occurs. If the ball is nicely maintained, it will be simple for the quick bowlers to do the job for the staff.”
Varun Shetty is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
