As New Zealand and India gear as much as lock horns within the finals of the World Test Championship, starting June 18 on the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, Kiwi pacer Neil Wagner has claimed that for him the WTC final would simply be like enjoying the finals of the World Cup.
“Yeah, it is like a World Cup final for me. The biggest disappointment, I guess, in my career is that I’ve never really played a white-ball game for New Zealand or never been able to crack into the T20 or the one-day game. That ship has probably sailed now and I don’t think the opportunity will ever come. For me now, it’s about putting all my focus and energy into Test cricket and to be able to play in a World Test Championship final is like a World Cup for me,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Wagner as saying.
“I know this final is the first and there isn’t a lot of history around it, but it’s the start of something that’s pretty big. To play in a one-off Test final against India – one of the best teams in the world, if not the best team in the world – to be able to test yourself against the best on the highest and biggest stage, that’s what it’s about. It’s extremely exciting, but I don’t want to think too far ahead. Don’t want to let the occasion get to you, just treat it like another Test match and do the same things you do. It’s definitely going to be a special occasion. That’s for sure,” he added.
Notably, forward of the WTC final, New Zealand will even play two-match Test collection towards England, starting June 2 at Lord’s and after the UK tour, New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling can be retiring from all types of cricket.
Talking about Watling, Wagner stated: “He’s a top man and will be sorely missed in this team. He’s the glue and the gel of the team and has been around for a long time now. I’ve always appreciated his honesty. He’s one of the guys who puts me back in line if need be, but will also encourage you and pick you up on the tough days.”
“He’s always been there for me, whether for plans or ideas. No matter how tired he is, he will sprint from the keeping side, run all the way to your mark to have a chat with you with a couple of plans. He’s been a class performer for this team and he’s always seen to be the guy that has done the nitty-gritty sort of stuff well and encourages people like myself and everyone around the team,” he added.
The Indian Men’s crew will arrive within the UK on 3 June 2021 through a constitution flight and carrying proof of a damaging PCR Test,” ICC stated in an official launch. Prior to travelling, the celebration may have spent 14 days in a bio-secure setting in India throughout which common testing may have taken place.
Upon touchdown, they may proceed on to the on-site lodge on the Hampshire Bowl the place they are going to be examined once more earlier than commencing a interval of managed isolation. Regular assessments shall be performed in the course of the interval of isolation. Players’ exercise shall be allowed in a progressively growing method after every spherical of damaging testing, shifting from train in isolation to small group after which bigger squad exercise, while all the time remaining inside the bio-secure venue.
The New Zealand crew is already within the UK forward of their bilateral collection towards England and the crew will transition from the ECB bio-secure setting into the World Test Championship Final bubble on June 15 and shall be topic to common testing previous to and post-arrival in Southampton.
