ENG vs NZ, 2nd Test: Five New Zealand players who would desperately want to get back in form ahead of the WTC final against India – Cricket fans around the world are waiting for the World Test Championship final. Many cricket pundits have even started predicting who would win the final – India or New Zealand. However, Team India is at a slight disadvantage ahead of the WTC final as Virat Kohli and Co. are not getting any match practice ahead of the mega final while Kane Williamson’s boys are playing two-match Test series with host England.
The England vs New Zealand series, however, could actually backfire for the visitors as many of their key players are still in search of form and if they go in the final underconfident, that would boost India’s chance in the WTC final.
So, in this article, we at Insidesport will take you through five New Zealand players who would desperately want to get back in form ahead of the WTC final against India.
ENG vs NZ: Kane Williamson
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson is the backbone of the Kiwi batting lineup. The right-hand batsman is one of the most consistent batsmen in the world, however, in the first Test against England, he played to put any positive impact on the game. He was dismissed for 13 and 1 in the first and second innings. If Kane could not find form in the second Test then the Indian bowling lineup will be more than happy.
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ENG vs NZ: Ross Taylor
Veteran New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor could actually be playing his last England tour and he could not get a better opportunity to end it on a high by winning the WTC. However, he will have to pull up his socks head of the final as in the three innings that he has played in 2021, the right-hand batsman has just managed to score 59 runs at an average of 19.7, which is way lower than his career average of 45.6. If he could not find form in the second Test against England then it will be very difficult for Blackcaps to beat India in the WTC final.
ENG vs NZ: BJ Watling
Blackcaps’ wicket-keeper batsman BJ Watling has already announced that he will be retiring after the WTC final. The 35-year-old will aim to finish his 12-year cricket career on a high. However, he is going through a rough patch as in three innings in 2021 he has scored 23 runs while in 2020 he could only score 150 runs in seven innings.
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ENG vs NZ: Colin de Grandhomme
All-rounder Colin de Grandhomme is a vital clog of New Zealand bowling. He will play a key role in playing in England where the condition favours medium pacers and to add to it he can chip in with some important runs at the back end of the innings. However, even he has struggled in 2021 as he has just scored nine runs in two innings and picked up zero wickets in the year.
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ENG vs NZ: Neil Wagner
Neil Wagner will be very effective with his short pitch deliveries against India in the final of the WTC. In the first Test at Lord’s, he did not look in good shape and could only pick three wickets in the match.
