ICC WTC Final: Conditions in Southampton will favour Kiwis over India, says Pat Cummins
Xtra Time Web Desk: Australia’s ace speedster Pat Cummins on Wednesday said conditions in Southampton will favour New Zealand more than India. Cummins, who is currently quarantining himself in Sydney since reaching Australia after IPL 2021 was suspended, was involved in a Live Q&A session with the fans.
“It is going to be a good match. I think there has been a lot of rain in England from what I have seen in the news. I think, in terms of conditions, it is going to be close to New Zealand conditions,” said Cummins
Cummins however refused to predict the winner, saying the June 18-22 match is a one-off Test and is hard to predict.
“We have seen both teams not having played Test matches for a couple of months. So, it is a one-off. Anything can happen. I will sit on the fence,” he said before insisting that weather conditions should favour the Kiwis.
“But if I say anything, the conditions should probably suit New Zealand more than India,” he added.
One of the fans asked Cummins who is the toughest batsman he bowled to. The Kolkata Knight Riders fast bowler picked Joe Root and Ben Stokes from England, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli from India, Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers from South Africa, and then picked Kane Williamson from New Zealand and Babar Azam from Pakistan.
“You talk about Joe Root and Ben Stokes from England. Then obviously, Pujara and Virat [Kohli] from India. You have got Kane Williamson and Babar Azam. In South Africa, there was AB de Villiers and Faf [du Plessis] is there. Every team has a couple of guys who are the prized wickets,” he added.
Cummins is the leading wicket-taker in the World Test Championship, having picked 70 scalps in 14 Test matches. He could be overtaken by India off-spinner R Ashwin in the WTC final, who is three short of him with 67 scalps in 13 Tests.
To watch the full Live Q&A session with Pat Cummins, click on the link below:
