New Zealand pacer Tim Southee on Wednesday (June 16) expects changes in the format of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) to make the contest even more enthralling for the fans in the future.
Presently, the finalists of the WTC Final were determined after two years of Test cricket around the world and now the winner of the World Test Championship Mace will be decided through a one-off Test match between India and New Zealand starting on June 18, Friday in Southampton.
Ahead of the much-awaited WTC 2021 Final, Southee said that the changes can be made to the format of the WTC Final from the next cycle.
Read Also: New Zealand reveal the special ball and jerseys for the WTC 2021 Final
Southee said during a virtual press conference: “At the start of the two-year cycle, we knew that it was going to be a one-off final. Maybe it's something they can look at going forward and then potentially make changes. It was made clear two years ago at the start of the cycle, what was required to win the championship. It's been great to put context around the Test game, to have the two-year cycle. There have already been adjustments going forward to the next cycle. So, it'll be an evolving thing.”
On New Zealand’s run in the recent ICC tournaments, the 32-year-old said, “It's been a long time since we won the Champions Trophy in 2000. We've come very close in the last couple. We know that it's going to be a tough week. Having a number of the guys that have been very close to winning an ICC event in the side, we have the experience of playing in the finals.”
Well, the experienced pacer has insisted that New Zealand is well prepared for the WTC 2021 Final against Team India having played a two-match Test series in England.
He added, “We've played two Tests against England, which obviously has been pretty good for us. It's been a great preparation leading up to this Test final good number of guys that have had good performances throughout those two Test matches. A couple of good days training today and tomorrow and as you know, we're all looking forward to what is the ultimate goal of this tour.”
Southee was also aware of the batting threat by the Indian cricket team that has world-class batters like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli with some talented youngsters in Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill.
Read Also: Toss is going to be huge, Shane Bond backs New Zealand to beat India in WTC 2021 Final
The pacer further added, “Rohit Sharma is a tremendous player in all three formats. He's personally a guy I like watching bat. He can take the game away from the opposition. But I know as a bowling group that it's a dangerous batting lineup throughout. For he's only one of many, many very good batters in this lineup and we know we're gonna have to be on top of our game.”
He signed off by saying, “It's an exciting batting lineup, a mix of experienced guys and a couple of young guys who are coming to play with that freedom and the excitement that they have. Nowadays, there's plenty of footage out. So, we will discuss footage and then come up with plans which will hopefully work.”
(With PTI Inputs)
