I think Tim Southee will trouble the Indians the most in the swinging conditions during WTC final: Monty Panesar

With the India and New Zealand World Test Championship final clash set less than under a week, the two teams are dominating all the cricket discussions currently. India is currently involved in an intra-squad match to acclimatize with the England conditions, while their rivals New Zealand have been up against England in two-match Test series that started June 2 at Lord’s.

Opening up about the inaugural WTC final, former England spinner Monty Panesar reckoned that Indians need to be wary of Tim Southee, who is expected to trouble them the most in the final. Notably, the Kiwi pacer has been in sensational form and bagged a six-for in the drawn Test at Lord’s, which was the first of the England-New Zealand Test series.

Panesar stated that Southee’s away swinging deliveries will be a danger for the Indian batters as that might lure them into the drives, thereby bringing the slip fielders and wicketkeeper into action for edges. Notably, Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been dismissed 10 times by Southee across formats in his international career.

New Zealand look slightly the better side: Monty Panesar

“I think Tim Southee will trouble the Indians the most in the swinging conditions. He is quite clever. He draws the batsman in by bowling slightly wide of the crease and slightly fuller. And that’s gonna be the danger ball for the Indian batsmen.

He’s going to lure them into hitting a half volley into the covers, and he will look to swing that ball. So that’s the ball the Indians need to watch out for,” Panesar said while speaking to Sportzoclock.

Speaking about the composition of the two sides, Panesar said, “I think New Zealand look slightly the better side. The reason being they have a lot more variations. They have a left-armer, right-armer and the tall bowler Jamieson as well. And that’s a lot more difficult for a batsman to adjust to.

“So, New Zealand will be hoping that the Indians will be preparing against the likes of a right armer and a left-armer and practicing with the ball swinging, because that is where it is going to be really testing for India,” he said.