Pakistan Cricket legend Wasim Akram feels that Indian pacers should not be “carried away” with the new ball and wants them to keep bowling consistently in the good areas to trouble the Australian batters in the World Test Championship final which starts on Wednesday, at the Kennington, Oval.
The top two teams in the World Test Championship Cycle (2021-23) India and Australia will square off each other for their maiden WTC final title in England. Team India will play their second consecutive final, whereas Baggy Green will take the field for the first time in the WTC final.
Speaking to ICC, Former Pakistan Left-arm pacer Wasim Akram feels that Indian fast bowlers should not be carried with the new ball, as the Australian batters can score quick runs if the Oval surface offers some bounce in the initial phase of the innings.
“These guys are experienced, and they shouldn’t get carried away (with the new ball), We all know it swings for 10 to 15 overs, so don’t give away extra runs in the first 10 to 15 overs as a fast bowler. (Early on) don’t get too excited if there is a bit of bounce as that is what the Australians want,” Wasim Akram said.
The pitch in the Kennington, Oval looks like it would favour the fast bowlers at least in the initial phase of the innings as they can produce some swing and seam movement, as the pacers will look to use the conditions to their advantage in England.
Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Umesh Yadav are likely to form the fast bowling attack of India and it will be interesting to see whether the Men in Blue opt to go with Shardul Thakur as the all-rounder or Ravichandran as the secondary spinner in the side.
This Pitch Normally Favours Team From The Sub-continent – Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram believes that the pitch in Oval usually favours the sub-continent bowlers, but it was during August and September and reckons that the pitch looks fresh during the early summer and it will be interesting to see, how the pitch behaves for the WTC final. For the first time in 140 years of its history that The Oval, which usually hosts a Test later part of English Summer.
“This pitch normally favours teams from the sub-continent, but whenever we toured here… it was always at the end of August or the start of September, This one is in June, the square is different, fresh square, and the ball is different altogether as a Dukes,” Wasim Akram added.
Indian players will come into the contest after the playing full season of the Indian Premier League, whereas most of the Australian players will play the game after a long break with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon would like to start afresh in the much-awaited final.