WTC Final: Brett Lee feels New Zealand might have an edge over India

WTC Final: Brett Lee feels New Zealand might have an edge over India

Bret lee on WTC finals

Australian Cricketer turned commentator, Brett Lee has made his opinion that at present conditions, New Zealand has a higher probability of winning the WTC finals and lifting the Inaugural World Test Championship Trophy. The Virat Kohli led Indian team is set to lock horns with Newzealand in the finals of the World Test Championship which is set to take place from June 18, 2021.

The Kiwi’s have already reached the English soil to play a two-match Test series against England prior to the WTC final. They have also been showing good form with the bat as the debutant Conway made a double century to help Newzealand post a formidable score of 378. Hence Brett Lee feels that Newzealand has better exposure to the English pitches compared to the Indian side which has been mandated to undergo quarantine for more than one month and is to directly play the WTC finals.

“Whichever team bowls best will win the WTC final,” says Brett Lee

Bret lee
Bret lee

Speaking to ICC, Lee said, “I am thinking though with the experience of New Zealand because they have bowled in conditions which are similar back home, you talk about the ball moving around, you talk about something in the wicket, there will be a bit of something, it may be conducive to fast bowling, to swing bowling. So that is where I think that the Kiwis might have an advantage purely from that fact.”

Brett Lee also adds up that the Bowling conditions of Newzealand are similar to that of English pitches which mainly support the swing bowlers whereas the Indian pitches are mostly in nature of spin tracks hence the kiwi’s are certainly off with an advantage with respect to the bowling sector.

“Now from a batting point of view, both sides have got batsmen that can play against swing bowling. But I think it comes down to bowling. I think whichever team bowls best will win the Test match final,” Lee added

Talking about Hampshire Bowl as a venue, Lee said, “I think that it will be a venue that will offer a lot from a pitching perspective, it is not a super-fast wicket. I think there will be enough there for the bowlers. But I just hope it is a nice playing surface, I think that that is what they will provide.”

“I have got no doubt that it will be successful. I have got no doubt that people will want to be able to compete for the ICC World Test Championship. I mean, it has got a nice ring to it. We compete for a World Cup when it comes to T20, 50-over cricket, why not Test cricket? Do not just go on, winning different stats, let us put the two best teams up against each other in a precious situation and see which one comes out on top. I think it has got a lot of merits,” the Aussie added.

Previously the Virat Kohli Led Indian team was denied an ICC trophy twice- The World Cup 2019 and ICC champions trophy 2017. Will the Indian team end the streak of choking up in the Knock out matches to lift their maiden ICC trophy under Virat Kohli by defeting the Kiwis in the WTC finals is question to be answered by the end of July 22, 2021.

Also Read: WTC final: Jadeja vs Ashwin and Gill vs Mayank – what is captain Kohli’s best 11?