Southampton:The problem of plenty is always a good problem to have. However when a person zeros down to a solution he is always sceptical about the option he has gone with as the substitute is as good as the tick marked product. The same can be said with India and Newzealand who awaits for the face-off in the penultimate clash of Test cricket- ICC test championship Final.
Team India led by Virat Kohli had been restricted to the hotel and played three intrasquad matches before going into the mothers of all battle. For a week or so team management is hell-bent upon fitting Mohammad Siraj into the playing XI who was the leading wicket-taker on the Australian soil. This would mean Mohammad Shami will possibly be left out who has immense wicket-taking ability in swinging conditions.
The maximum checkbox in the batting lineup is ticked and there would be no reshuffle. Rohit Sharma and Shubhman Gill would be the prefered openers followed by Pujara at number 4 and Skipper in the middle order. The same goes with the Wicketkeeper, The southpaw Rishab pant will be seen behind the wickets, if all goes well.
However, one close contest in the selection would be between R Ashwin and R Jadeja. Possibly team management won't take a risk of playing two spinners on a track that carry pace and bounce. Over a period of time, the off-spinner Ashwin has shown his prowess with the bat in red-ball cricket while R Jadeja not only contributes in lower order but also provides crucial breakthroughs with incoming deliveries. It is going to be a tough call.
The same can be said for the black caps who have recently become table toppers in the while clothing. The series win versus England has given them the much-needed momentum on English soil. From the Opening combination to the pace battery, every player is charged up for Friday.
Skipper Kane Williamson had a disappointing outing in England with only 14 runs in both innings of the first test. He is set to return after being dropped in the second test due to an elbow injury. However, the batsman who replaced Kane Williamson, Will Young scored 82 runs against lethal England bowlers and countered swing bowling effectively. It would be very hard for the selectors to drop him. Thus, team management is finding ways to fit Young in the Playing XI.
If young gets a call up it will be Tom Latham who needs to warm the bench as all the Kiwi batsmen are in good nick. But will the form oust experience for the ICC test championship final, this remains a question.
The English summer is mostly cloudly and few drizzles may interrupt the game at ages bowl Southampton. This is the reason a reserve day has been kept for the final for the high possibility of a result. (WD)