Page 46 - The Indian EYE 052821

SPORTS MAY 28, 2021 | The Indian Eye 46

cricKet at a Glance

KIWIS ready FOr WTC

ClaSH WITH INdIa

Asian championship is postponed because of Covid-19 crisis in the region

New Zealand will play two
Our Bureau Tests against England before

Southampton/Mumbai they take on India in the WTC
final on June 18. “Nah, I think
ew Zealand batsman anytime you get a chance to play
Ross Taylor feels an
Nearly conclusion to the a Test match for New Zealand,
Indian Premier League (IPL) it’s an amazing opportunity and
2021 has helped Team India to it’s something that you treasure,
be better prepared for the up- so I don’t think you would treat
them as warm-ups,” said South-
coming World Test Champion- ee in a virtual press conference.
ship (WTC) final slated to begin “It’s a two-match Test se-
on June 18. ries against England and so our
The safety of every individu-
al involved in the IPL was one focus is first and foremost on
of the major reasons for the those two matches against En-
gland,” he further said.
BCCI and the IPL Governing “For us, it is great to have
Council to unanimously decide India's Virat Kohli with New Zealand's Ross Taylor at the Test match those matches in the lead-in to
on the suspension of the league played in March 2020 the final that follows on after-
on May 4. Taylor said the Virat
Kohli-led side will be more con- ward. It’s great preparation for
ditioned ahead of the WTC fi- the final but in saying that, for
nal than they would have been us it’s a two-match Test series
that we’re really looking for-
if IPL wasn’t suspended. ward to, and the quality English
“I couldn’t think of better opposition in these conditions,”
preparation than playing two Southee opined.
Test matches in England. At
the end of the day, it is a neu- England and New Zealand
tral venue. In terms of India, are set to lock horns in two Tests,
IPL finishing early has proba- beginning June 2. Southee is
“excited” to play three Tests in
bly played into the hands a lit- such a short space of time.
tle bit,” said Taylor in a virtual “It’s exciting to play three
press conference. Test matches in a short space
“If IPL had come, they
would have had a smalled of time. It is something that the
preparations. Now they will be team doesn’t get to do that of-
ten,” said Southee.
a lot more conditioned, their “We’ve come off a bit of a
bowlers will get their loads up,” break, which has been nice, and
he added. New Zealand's Tim Southee in action in a Test match with India (we have) been able to get some
New Zealand will play two
Tests against England before for a long time and had a lot of Tests ‘great preparation’ conditioning into our bodies, the
they take on India in the WTC success over here [in England],” against India: Tim Southee guys that have come from the
final on June 18. said Taylor. New Zealand pacer Tim IPL and are going to be playing
some cricket,” he added.
Taylor feels the two Tests “I guess we can’t ask for a Southee won’t be treating the Talking about the prepara-
against England will give the Ki- better schedule leading into the two Tests against England as tion of his side before the UK
wis a slight advantage going into WTC final. At this time of the warm-ups for the World Test tour, Southee said: “The guys
the WTC final. year bowlers will be relishing Championship (WTC) final but
“Playing these two Test the conditions,” he added. he admitted that the upcoming are refreshed in some sort of
matches gives us a slight advan- England and New Zealand games will help the Kiwis in way, using the next couple of
tage but this Indian team have will lock horns in two Tests, be- preparing for the summit clash weeks to get ourselves prepared
been number one in the world ginning June 2. against India. Continued on next page... >>

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