![New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is excited to face India in the World Test Championships (WTC) final next month as he considers showdowns against Virat Kohli’s men to be a “fantastic challenge”. India and New Zealand square-off in the final of the inaugural World Test Championships in Southampton from June 18. “When we play against India, it has always been a fantastic challenge and so it is really exciting to be playing against them,” Williamson said in a video posted by the ICC on its Twitter handle. “It’s really, really exciting to be involved in the final, obviously to win it would be that much better,” said the 30-year-old considered one of the best current batsmen in the world. Talking about championship and how it progressed, Williamson said, “We saw the contests in the WTC has brought real excitement. “... The games were really tight such as in the India-Australia series and our series against Pakistan as well where you had to really fight hard to get the results, which is really great.” New Zealand pacer Neil Wagner admitted India possess fast bowlers who can exploit the English conditions but said the wickets can change anytime and become flat also. “India has a lot of quality fast bowlers who have done well in different conditions, they can swing (the ball) under overcast conditions but when the sun comes out it (wicket ) is flat and nothing happens. “(English) Conditions can change throughout and so I am not getting carried away too much, trying to control the controllables.” India batsman Hanuma Vihari, who is in England for a county stint with Warwickshire, said it would be a great feeling to play for his country in the WTC final. “I am excited but I would want to be in that moment and not to get too much carried away by the importance of the situation,” he said. “But as a sportsman, to play for India in the final of inaugural World Test Championships is always a great feeling,” said the 27-year-old batsman who is currently playing county cricket in England. The majority of the Kiwi players have reached the UK as they play a two-match series against England starting June 2 before the WTC final. The Indians are expected to reach here in the first week of June after a hard quarantine in Mumbai. Taylor confident New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor said he is confident about overcoming a calf strain and becoming fit ahead of the two-Test series against hosts England and the WTC final against India. New Zealand begin their campaign at Lord’s when they take on England in the first Test from June 2. The 37-year-old Taylor is in the spotlight as the dependable batsman recently suffered a calf strain during the Black Caps’ training at their high-performance centre at Lincoln earlier this month. However, he allayed those fears on Monday, saying, “Obviously you don’t want to have those little niggles and this (calf) niggle came about trying to get the hamstring right,” said Taylor. “It’s part and parcel of being an International cricketer,” Taylor told cricinfo.com as he along with Tim Southee, BJ Watling and Neil Wagner depart for the UK on Monday. “More is made of it when you get older. If you get a calf or a hamstring injury at 32, nothing’s made of it, but when you’re 37, there’s a few more headlines, but it is what it is, and I’m comfortable with where I’m at,” added Taylor. Taylor is relishing the opportunity to dominate in England, where, on his maiden International assignment in 2008, he smashed an unbeaten 154 against the hosts in the Test at Manchester. “(A) hundred-odd Tests later, [England is] still a great place to play cricket — probably one of the best tours to go on. Obviously being in a bubble is going to be a bit strange. Thirteen years ago, fond memories of that tour and still to date one of the best innings I’ve played in Manchester in the second Test,” he said. Seifert to fly home New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman Tim Seifert, who contracted Covid-19 during the currently-suspended IPL in India, has tested negative for the infection now and is on his way back home, his national coach Gary Stead has revealed. Seifert represented Kolkata Knight Riders and tested positive for the virus on May 8. “I heard from Tim just a little while ago. I think the really encouraging thing is he’s tested negative and my understanding is he’s on a flight out of India pretty quickly as well,” Stead was quoted as saying by stuff.Co.Nz. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take him to get back to New Zealand or where he’s heading via, but it’s great news for Tim, that for a start his health is on the improve anyway, to the point where he’s not testing positive anymore,” added the head coach. As per the report, an NZ Cricket spokesperson also confirmed that Seifert had left India to begin his journey home.](/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/fantastic-challenge-to-play-india-kane-on-wtc-final-780x470.jpg)
Wednesday, 19 May 2021 | PTI | London
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is excited to face India in the World Test Championships (WTC) final next month as he considers showdowns against Virat Kohli’s men to be a “fantastic challenge”.
India and New Zealand square-off in the final of the inaugural World Test Championships in Southampton from June 18.
“When we play against India, it has always been a fantastic challenge and so it is really exciting to be playing against them,” Williamson said in a video posted by the ICC on its Twitter handle.
“It’s really, really exciting to be involved in the final, obviously to win it would be that much better,” said the 30-year-old considered one of the best current batsmen in the world.
Talking about championship and how it progressed, Williamson said, “We saw the contests in the WTC has brought real excitement.
“… The games were really tight such as in the India-Australia series and our series against Pakistan as well where you had to really fight hard to get the results, which is really great.”
New Zealand pacer Neil Wagner admitted India possess fast bowlers who can exploit the English conditions but said the wickets can change anytime and become flat also.
“India has a lot of quality fast bowlers who have done well in different conditions, they can swing (the ball) under overcast conditions but when the sun comes out it (wicket ) is flat and nothing happens.
“(English) Conditions can change throughout and so I am not getting carried away too much, trying to control the controllables.”
India batsman Hanuma Vihari, who is in England for a county stint with Warwickshire, said it would be a great feeling to play for his country in the WTC final.
“I am excited but I would want to be in that moment and not to get too much carried away by the importance of the situation,” he said.
“But as a sportsman, to play for India in the final of inaugural World Test Championships is always a great feeling,” said the 27-year-old batsman who is currently playing county cricket in England.
The majority of the Kiwi players have reached the UK as they play a two-match series against England starting June 2 before the WTC final.
The Indians are expected to reach here in the first week of June after a hard quarantine in Mumbai.
Taylor confident
New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor said he is confident about overcoming a calf strain and becoming fit ahead of the two-Test series against hosts England and the WTC final against India.
New Zealand begin their campaign at Lord’s when they take on England in the first Test from June 2.
The 37-year-old Taylor is in the spotlight as the dependable batsman recently suffered a calf strain during the Black Caps’ training at their high-performance centre at Lincoln earlier this month.
However, he allayed those fears on Monday, saying, “Obviously you don’t want to have those little niggles and this (calf) niggle came about trying to get the hamstring right,” said Taylor.
“It’s part and parcel of being an International cricketer,” Taylor told cricinfo.com as he along with Tim Southee, BJ Watling and Neil Wagner depart for the UK on Monday.
“More is made of it when you get older. If you get a calf or a hamstring injury at 32, nothing’s made of it, but when you’re 37, there’s a few more headlines, but it is what it is, and I’m comfortable with where I’m at,” added Taylor.
Taylor is relishing the opportunity to dominate in England, where, on his maiden International assignment in 2008, he smashed an unbeaten 154 against the hosts in the Test at Manchester.
“(A) hundred-odd Tests later, [England is] still a great place to play cricket — probably one of the best tours to go on. Obviously being in a bubble is going to be a bit strange. Thirteen years ago, fond memories of that tour and still to date one of the best innings I’ve played in Manchester in the second Test,” he said.
Seifert to fly home
New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman Tim Seifert, who contracted Covid-19 during the currently-suspended IPL in India, has tested negative for the infection now and is on his way back home, his national coach Gary Stead has revealed.
Seifert represented Kolkata Knight Riders and tested positive for the virus on May 8.
“I heard from Tim just a little while ago. I think the really encouraging thing is he’s tested negative and my understanding is he’s on a flight out of India pretty quickly as well,” Stead was quoted as saying by stuff.Co.Nz.
“I don’t know how long it’s going to take him to get back to New Zealand or where he’s heading via, but it’s great news for Tim, that for a start his health is on the improve anyway, to the point where he’s not testing positive anymore,” added the head coach.
As per the report, an NZ Cricket spokesperson also confirmed that Seifert had left India to begin his journey home.
