FANTASY
Follow UsIt all boils down to this. After two years of consistent show in the most testing format of the game, India and New Zealand are deserving entrants in the biggest showdown in Test cricket - the World Test Championship Final. The match will be played in Southampton’s Ageas Bowl, June 18 onwards.
It can be a tough contest for fantasy players given it features a number of players who have been consistent over the last couple of years. But we try to break things down for you to help create an efficient XI in the best possible way.
India have a clear lead in the historic head-to-head record. However, they lost both the Tests of their two-match Test series in New Zealand in 2020. In 2016, New Zealand lost 3-0 in India. A neutral venue for this game is what adds more flair to this contest.
Head to Head
Overall: Matches – 59 | IND – 21 wins | NZ – 12 wins | Draw - 33
Last five matches: IND – 3 wins | NZ – 2 wins
Ground Details and Team Combination
The first thing that strikes about Ageas Bowl is its characteristic to aid spin alongside the usual help for the seamers. Not many Test venues in England have that. Since 2018, it has the third-best bowling average for spinners in England. While Ageas Bowl’s sample size is the biggest of the lot - 4 matches - Edgbaston’s numbers are skewed by a seven-wicket haul by Nathan Lyon in one of the two Tests here in the time period considered.
Looking at the 2021 County Championship for recent context, the scores oscillated from 470 to as low as 79. Barring the 470, the highest total was 336 while there were two more double-digit scores. Fair to say, it has not been a happy hunting ground for pacers.
The weather forecasts shows rain and overcast conditions on all days of the Test match which makes pacers vital for this contest. Both teams have plenty of options in that department as well. Hence, we will recommend a bowling heavy side while keeping spinners in mind.
Suggested Team
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your own team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. Based on algorithms, we have come up with one team.
Captain Selection
Tim Southee is having the time of his life in Test cricket. Only 13 bowlers have picked up over 80 wickets in Tests since 2018. Southee’s average of 21.9 is the best among and he has snaffled 101 scalps. In the first Test against England, at Lord’s, Southee’s was in full pomp, dismissing batsmen with outswingers, in-dippers and even short ball and picked 6/43 in the first innings. With his guile and experience, he will be key to New Zealand’s chances in this final.
Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Southee will pick 4-6 wickets in this match
X-Factor
Ravichandran Ashwin is a must-pick for this match. As said above, spinners can prove to be a priceless asset and there is none better than Ashwin, especially with the left-handers in New Zealand’s anticipated XI. He is in fact the only bowler in Test history to dismiss 200 left-handers. Ashwin also proved his mettle in overseas conditions during India’s victorious tour Down Under. It won’t be a surprise if he is given the new ball as well against New Zealand’s opening pair, both of whom are lefties. With the best, he is probably one of the best numbers eights going around in Test cricket.
Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Ashwin will score 40-61 runs and pick 7-9 wickets in this match
Since making his debut last year, against India itself, Kyle Jamieson has been amazing in Test cricket. Amongst the 22 bowlers who have picked over 20 Test wickets or more since 2020, Jamieson’s average of 15.9 is the third-highest. He looked on and off in the first Test against England but picked three wickets in the first innings. He offers batting potential as well. He has troubled the Indians before with his high release - his height of 6 feet and 8 inches plus the jump in his delivery stride - and can do it again.
Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Jamieson will pick 9-11 wickets in this match
Rishabh Pant is an X-factor, not only in our suggested Fantasy XI but in the Indian team as well. He is having a dream run in Test cricket, with scores of 97, 89*, 91 and 101. All these scores came in high-pressure situations. He averages 64.4 this year in Test cricket with a strike-rate of 76.5. Plus, he is bound to give points as a wicketkeeper as well.
Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Pant will score 56-85 runs in this match
Notable Exclusions
Like the two teams, even we are spoiled for choices. Ravindra Jadeja has become nearly undroppable for India in Tests but given the number of pace bowling options available, we had to restrict spinners’ count to one which was pouched by Ashwin. Neil Wagner is ranked number five in Test bowling rankings but misses out against the batting expertise of Jamieson. Rohit Sharma will be opening for the first time in England, one of the lesser productive countries for openers in Test cricket of late. Moreover, he has his arch-nemesis in the other camp, Southee. Rohit has been out to Southee nine times in international cricket, keeping us skeptical about his chances.