WTC Final: Strengths, Weaknesses Of India, New Zealand

The World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand gets underway on Friday at the Hampshire Bowl here. Here is a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the two teams: INDIA Strengths: We

NEW ZEALAND

Strengths

Swing bowling: The New Zealand bowling line-up is known for variety. But their new-ball bowlers, Tim Southee and Trent Boult, are probably the most difficult bowlers to face in Test matches at the moment. Their ability to move the ball, especially the Dukes ball, in seam-friendly English conditions can challenge the best batsmen in the world.

Captaincy: In Kane Williamson, New Zealand have a very able calm and cool leader. He doesn't appear to show any aggression and almost looks non-existent unlike his Indian counterpart who is always chirpy and expressive. But Williamson gets his job done. He prepares very well for every Test.

The South African element: The Kiwis were worried about their opening batting. But Devon Conway answered the call with a double century at Lord's against the likes James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Conway was the man-of-the-series. The Kiwis have another South African in Neil Wagner, who is relentless with his short deliveries and was the one who showed India the way how to get Steve Smith out when he trapped the Aussie batting mainstay multiple times in 2018-19. It is yet to be seen if he gets to play.

Weaknesses

Spin: New Zealand are weak in their spin. Their spinners just don't have the experience the Indian spinners, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have. Their first-choice spinner Mitchell Santner is injured and replacement left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, though impressive in the second Test against England at Edgbaston, has played only nine Test matches.

Batting frailties: The batting has been too heavily dependent on skipper Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor. With the arrival of Devon Conway, they can breathe a bit easy but unlike India, their batting doesn't run deep. If the Kiwis lose early wickets, they can easily be put unde pressure.

Lack of game-changers: India have the likes of Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah who can change the game in one session. But New Zealand don't have any other than one or two of their pace bowlers who, if they take a clutch of wickets, can put India under pressure. New Zealand's batting doesn't have anyone who can hit back and change the game in a session.