World Test Championship: Advantage New Zealand Before WTC Final? Know More

India and New Zealand will play the World Test Championship Final in June. Before the WTC Final, New Zealand will play a 2-match Test series against England. Experts believe that this could go in favour of NZ.

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World Test Championship: Virat Kohli's team India will face New Zealand in the all-important World Test Championship on 18 June 2021. The Indian team will reach England on June 2 and will stay in quarantine before the start of the Final on 18 June. 

The Covid-19 related cases are on a rise and there is uncertainty surrounding everything. But, in a recent interview, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly cleared the air about the start of the WTC final. He said that the Final will take place as per schedule. Even though New Zealand and India are two of the best teams in the world right now, NZ will have a certain advantage. Know why.

Why Advantage New Zealand?

NZ is traveling to England to play a 2-match Test series from 25 May. They will have the advantage of having the experience of playing two matches before the all-important final. By the time they play the first ball of WTC final, NZ would have by then played 2 Test matches and one practice match. Thus, they would have had ample match practice. The English conditions are pretty tricky and to adjust as per conditions takes time.

Indian players have a history of taking time to adjust to the changed conditions. Since 2009, India has not won the first Test match of the tour to South Africa, England, and Australia. Thus, this fact might rule in favor of the NZ team. 

What is the World Test Championship?

‘The World Test Championship comprises nine teams competing in 71 Test matches in 27 series across two years. Comprising the top nine Test teams in the world, each team will play three home and three away series. The top two teams at the end will compete in the ICC World Test Championship Final in the UK in June 2021 with the winners crowned World Test Champions,' reads the ICC website.