New Zealand pace bowler Neil Wagner, who always remains in talks due to his variations has now stated that short-pitch deliveries will be a big challenge for India in the World Test Championship finals. He also stated that Kiwis are better prepared than they ever before touring England and thanks to their Duke ball practices.
New Zealand, who are set to play two Test against England from June 2 to June 14 before WTC finals against India used Duked balls in their pre-depature practice camp in Linclon.
“It’s been quite nice, it’s obviously got different characteristics to the Kookaburra. The way we’ve been training for the last while is something we didn’t always have in the past, having the facilities and having a marquee up and getting a number of trainings in before going to England,” Wagner told New Zealand media reporters at the Auckland airport just before departing to England.
“On tours in the past you rock up there and you’ve only got a couple of trainings and maybe one head out with the Dukes ball before the first Test and with that you can find yourself a little bit behind,” he added.
“But having had that little bit of training leading into it has been quite beneficial, just because it’s a little bit different, and obviously adapting to it. It’s been really good preparation and everybody is excited bowling with it.”
Wagner has been the senior-most bowler in New Zealand Test setup and and is ranked third in ICC Test bowlers’ rankings behind No. 1 Pat Cummins and No. 2 R Ashwin. Tim Southee, who also will be playing the three Test matches – two against England and the WTC final vs India –, is the other Kiwi among the top 10 bowlers, at No. 6.
“We’re not going to treat these two Test matches against England just as warm-ups [for the WTC final],” he said.
“I know for a fact we’re going to get out there and pride ourselves the way we’ve been playing Test cricket and we want to win Test matches for New Zealand.”
