Ajit Agarkar has said that the lack of Test cricket played by India in recent times could pose a challenge for Team India in the all-important World Test Championship (WTC) final.
India last played a Test match against England in March this year winning the 4 Test series 3-1. Their last away tour was to Australia in 2020/21, where they staged a remarkable comeback to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after an embarrassing defeat in the 1st Adelaide Test.
Ajit Agarkar: India Has Not Played Test Cricket Away From Home In Recent Times
Ajit Agarkar previewed the WTC final during a discussion on Star Sports. He pointed out that the lack of long-form cricket could prove to be India’s Achilles heel, especially as the match will be played with the Dukes’ ball in seamer-friendly English conditions.
“The Dukes ball does swing around, so the challenges are a lot and more so because India has not had any Test cricket in recent times, not had Test cricket away from home since that Australia tour and Australian conditions are completely different,” said Ajit Agarkar.
Ajit Agarkar Praised The New Zealand Pace Attack Which Has Certainly Got A Lot Of Variety
Ajit Agarkar lauded the variety in the Kiwi pace attack when asked if it is the most complete attack in helpful conditions. He highlighted that while Trent Boult and Tim Southee can move the ball in different directions, the lanky Kyle Jamieson will extract disconcerting bounce from the surface.
“It has certainly got a lot of variety. Because if you look at someone like a Jamieson, who is a tall guy, will pose a different challenge. Boult and Southee, one coming into you and the other going away from you as a right-hander,” said Agarkar.
The former India pacer pointed out that Neil Wagner has the tendency to pick up wickets even on flat tracks by targeting batsmen with his barrage of short-pitched bowling.
“And then Wagner, when nothing is happening and everything seems flat he comes and does something and he has been doing it on a regular basis,” added Ajit Agarkar.
Ajit Agarkar concluded by stating that the Blackcaps pacers will also feel at home in the English conditions.
“So the challenges are a bit different. Also what works in their favor is the conditions. Because you are playing in England, it is almost like what you get in New Zealand, that makes it a little easier,” signed off Agarkar.
It will be interesting to see if New Zealand opts to go for a four-pronged pace attack against India. One of the aforementioned pacers might have to sit out if they field a spinner, considering that the Southampton pitch has assisted the tweakers in the past.
The New Zealand team led by Kane Williamson thrashed India inside three days in two home Tests in early 2020, something that will give them confidence going into the final.
The New Zealand pace bowling quartet of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, and Kyle Jamieson was crucial in them qualifying for the final as they won all their games at home in the WTC cycle defeating India, West Indies, and Pakistan 2-0 each. They will once again pose a massive challenge to Virat Kohli and other batsmen.