WTC Final: Top 5 New Zealand Cricketers to watch out for

India and New Zealand face against each other in the high prolific finals of the inaugural World Test Championship in Southampton. The team which wins will not only take away the ICC Test Championship mace but also the No.1 ranking in the ICC Test team rankings.

Here are our Top 5 picks for the New Zealand players to watch out for in the inaugural WTC Final:

5. BJ Watling

The inaugural World Test Championship final will also mark the last international outing for BJ Watling. 35-year-old Watling will be playing his 75^th Test and would love end his career on a championship high.

Watling scored 3789 runs in his career powered by 8 centuries and 19 half centuries. In the ICC Test Championship, the wicket-keeper batsman accumulated 417 runs in 15 innings with the help of 1 century and 2 half centuries. He is among the Top 5 run getters for New Zealand in the tournament.

Watling provides resistance down the order which can irk the opposition bowling attacks. He holds a partnership record of 365* with Kane Williamson, which is the second highest partnership for the 6th wicket in Test cricket while the partnership of 261 between BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner is the fifth highest partnership for the 7th wicket in Test Cricket. It goes to show how influential Watling was for the Blackcaps in the lower middle order.

4. Trent Boult

Trent Boult is a ever searing threat to Team India at the start of the innings. He sets up the pace of the match with his ability to swing both ways. The Kiwi pacer has taken 10 wickets at an average of 15.6 in the last 3 innings he bowled against India.

In the World Test Championship, Trent Boult is the third highest wicket taker behind Southee and Jamieson with with 34 wickets in 18 innings. His best of 4/28 came against Team India in the Christchurch Test in February 2020.

In England, the left-arm pacer picked 27 wickets in 5 Tests at an average of 22.40. He has 2 fifers with a best of 5-57 at Leeds.

3. Devon Conway

Devon Conway had a sensational start to his International career ever since his T20I debut in November 2020. He performed in all formats scoring at an average over 59. Conway scored 473 runs in 11 T20I innings, 225 runs in 3 ODI innings and more recently won the Man of the Series award for his 306 runs in 4 innings against England which included a maiden Test double century on debut at Lord’s.

The form Conway is in is a big threat to Team India. With Ashwin set to exploit the number of left handers in the New Zealand line up – Conway known for his ability to play spin well can come in more than handy for the Blackcaps.

2. Kyle Jamieson

Kyle Jamieson has been a force to be reckoned with ever since his debut against India in February 2020. Since then, he picked 39 wickets in 14 innings at an average of 15.15. In the World Test Championship alone, Jamieson picked 36 wickets in 12 innings at an average of 13.27.

He has been lethal against India with both bat and ball. He picked 9 wickets in 2 Tests with a best of 5-45 against India. His contribution with the bat troubled India as he scored 93 runs in 2 Tests at an average of 46.50 and a strike rate of 86.11. He could be a massive differential between both teams when it comes to the batting depth.

His contributions earned him a high profile buy at IPL 2021 auction where RCB got him for 15 crore INR. Indian viewers will surely pay special attention to the 6’8″ all-round talent.

1. Henry Nicholls

The 29-year-old Kiwi batsman featured in just 39 Tests scoring 2257 runs at an average of 43.40. He recorded 7 centuries and 11 half centuries in his career spanning 58 innings.

The reason Nicholls made this list over the likes of Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson is the unknown factor. Players with relatively less experience hurt India in the past as you can expect them packing a punch in any which way it suits. Nicholls will be subjected to the R Ashwin Test like other left handers in the team.

 Nicholls played just 3 tests against India and has a dismal record of 61 runs at an average of 15.25. Since then, he gathered form to become the third highest scorer for New Zealand in the World Test Championship with 585 runs in 15 innings with a high score of 174.

What makes Nicholls lethal is his ability to shift gears at will and build partnerships down the order with tail end which has a better batting depth than Team India.

Special Mentions

This is one of the best New Zealand Test line-ups in a long time and each players brings in his own mojo to the table. Ross Taylor has been a pillar of strength in crisis situations for the team and New Zealand would hope the return of form for their captain Kane Williamson who struggled away from home. Tim Southee has been in dangerous form and can contribute with the bat down the order. Neil Wagner is their X-factor who can chip in with a burst of fiery spell here and there to trouble the opposition in the WTC Final.