There is a lot of buzz around the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, slated to be played between India and New Zealand in Southampton from June 18-22.
With less than two weeks to go for the inaugural WTC final, South Africa’s hard-hitting batsman David Miller has said that the Kiwis would have an upper hand in the marquee game.
According to Miller, the Kane Williamson-led side holds advantage because of the conditions on offer at the Ageas Bowl.
“Both the teams did well during the last couple of years. However, in my opinion New Zealand at this stage will have an upper hand because of the conditions the final will be played in,” Miller said in an exclusive interview with DawnNews programme ‘Replay’.
India’s top cricketers have been out of action since the suspension of IPL 2021 last month while New Zealand players are already getting valuable practice for the WTC final, with the two-match Test series underway against England.
The Indian players and support staff landed in UK on June 3 and they are currently under quarantine in Southampton.
Last week, ICC had said that regular COVID-19 tests will be carried out during the quarantine period while players’ activity will be allowed in a gradually increasing manner after each round of negative testing, moving from exercise in isolation to small group and then larger squad activity.
The governing body had also confirmed that the Kiwis will enter the bio-bubble for WTC final on June 15.
“The New Zealand team are already in the UK ahead of their bilateral series against England and the team will transition from the ECB bio-secure environment into the World Test Championship Final bubble on 15 June and will be subject to regular testing prior to and post arrival in Southampton.”
