‘Defending on the front foot will be crucial’
MUMBAI: New Zealand have some momentum heading into the inaugural World Test Championship final after beating England in a Test series at home. They also have the advantage of playing in familiar conditions, with healthy swing and seam movement on offer at Southampton. Yet, for Sachin Tendulkar, the Kiwis will not be favourites, simply because both teams are equally powerful and well-balanced. In a masterclass over the phone, the legendary batsman broke down the possibilities for the final in detail. Excerpts:
How will winning the series against England lift New Zealand’s confidence in the final?
Winning (a series) does make a huge difference. It completely changes your mindset. With that winning mindset you know that from any situation you can pull it through. Without any doubt this victory for New Zealand would have charged them up. But both are strong sides. I wouldn’t rate them (New Zealand) as favourites, I’d say it’s going to be an equal contest. NZ also have the advantage of playing in familiar conditions, as they are used to playing in similar conditions back home... I agree. If the match was played in the Middle-East then we would adapt to the conditions that much faster. Adjusting to the conditions in England, the overhead conditions change (fast), that has a major effect on how the surface plays, how the ball swings...the batters know it: that in England you try and play as close to your body as possible.
Will it be tough to pick the playing XI for India?
The batting line-up if would be obvious. We have done well as a team, you wouldn’t want to tinker around with that too much. (For bowling) one would have to see the surface. Literally till the previous day they will keep watering the surface and depending on how hard the sun is beating down on the surface etc, it all depends on these things. The best part is we have got all-rounders who can come (down the order) and forge decent partnerships. India can play, six batters, three seamers and a spinner; or four seamers and one spinner; or three seamers and two spinners.
India bowlers had attacked in Australia successfully with their leg-stump line, do you see that strategy being effective against NZ?
Each batter plays differently, the conditions are different, the ball is different, it will come differently off the surface so you have to assess. I am sure the India team would have plenty of meetings and plans, and identify areas where to bowl to whom. I don’t know if the pitch is going to have as much bounce like in Australia, though I heard that the curator has said the pitch will have decent carry.
When you have good bounce then while sweeping you can always get a top edge, it can either go to short fine-leg or deep square-leg. When there is bounce and no turn then you would want to keep the ball in line (with the stumps).
If there is bounce and turn, then you move marginally outside off-stump. Eventually, the idea is to be top of off and middle stump.
Something that is really critical is how you defend on your front foot. If you are able to sort out your front-foot defence to quality fast bowling, then most of your problems get resolved.