WTC FINAL: Kiwi Neil Wagner not banking much on wickets

New Delhi, May 18

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson says he’s looking forward to the challenge of playing India in the final of the World Test Championship, to be played 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. “It’s really, really exciting to be involved in the final, obviously to win it would be that much better.”

Fast bowler Neil Wagner, who has troubled the best of batsmen with short-pitched bowling over the last few years, said he won’t get carried away by pitches that seem helpful at first.

“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 is flat and nothing happens,” said Wagner. “Conditions can change throughout and so I am not getting carried away too much, trying to control the controllables.”

The majority of the New Zealand 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. — TNS, agencies