Irfan Pathan and Scott Styris name their favorites for the WTC 2021 Final

Pathan believes New Zealand will have advantage going in the WTC final at Southampton.

India and New Zealand will be going head to head from June 18 | GettyWith the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC 2021) just around the corner, all the cricket fans and experts are keeping themselves busy by predicting the playing XIs and by suggesting some key aspects of the upcoming Test match.

The latest addition to this list were former India cricketer Irfan Pathan and former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris who recently predicted the winners of WTC final while talking on Star Sports show Cricket Connected.

WTC Final, it’s the biggest Test match ever. I think New Zealand will have a 55-45 advantage. I also think Kane Williamson will be the highest scorer. And, in terms of highest wicket-taker – it will be between Trent Boult and Mohammad Shami,Pathan said.

Styris on the other hand, topped Pathan’s predictions by also predicting the winner according to him along with the margin of victory and a couple of stand-out players.

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I think New Zealand will win and they will win by 6 wickets. I think Devon Conway is going to be the highest run-scorer and Trent Boult will get the most wickets,Styris told Star Sports.

Since New Zealand is currently playing a two-match Test series against England, many experts feel they might be the better prepared side for the upcoming WTC final. Even though the first-Test match at Lord’s ended in a draw, there were many positives for the Kiwis.

With debutant Devon Conway scoring a superb double ton in the first innings and veteran pacer Tim Southee picking yet another five-wicket haul as the right-arm quick ended the first innings with 6-43.

Team India, on the other hand, landed in the UK on 3 June and after completing the mandatory hard quarantine in Southampton, the subcontinental giants have begun the training for the upcoming final slated to begin from June 18.

(With Star Sports Inputs)

 
 

By Swapnil Shireesh Javkhedkar - 08 Jun, 2021

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