Former New Zealand skipper, Glenn Turner has stated that Virat Kohli and all the other Indian players are likely to struggle in the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand if there will be swing and seam on offer.
The Asian Giants will lock horns with the Black Caps in the title clash starting June 18 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. All eyes will be on the Indian side, who play their first game of the tour while the Kiwis came from the back of two Test matches against England.
Ahead of the tie, former New Zealand skipper Glenn Turner has fired shots at Virat Kohli saying that the talismanic run-scorer is likely to struggle if the conditions favour seam and swing.
“I don’t wish to speculate on whether Kohli’s reflexes have deteriorated. But if the pitch and overall conditions favour seam and swing, he is also likely to struggle along with others as was demonstrated in New Zealand,” Turner, a former New Zealand selector, told The Telegraph.
“Once again, conditions are going to be pivotal,” Turner said. “I think it is true to say that the home conditions, where batsmen are brought up, play a significant part in the technique and skills of a player,” he added.
England conditions are closer to those in New Zealand – Glenn Turner
Given how India were blanked 2-0 in the Test series in New Zealand, Glenn Turner believes that batsmen are once again going to feel the heat against the likes of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, and Neil Wagner to name a few. The New Zealander said so as the pitches in England are similar to those in New Zealand.
“Although it seems that in more recent times, pitches in India can assist seam bowling, they still can’t be compared to conditions in New Zealand. This was exposed when India last toured New Zealand. English conditions are generally closer to those in New Zealand,” Glenn Turner added.
When India last played a Test series against New Zealand, they were white-washed 2-0. The Men in Blue last played a Test series in England in 2018, where they were beaten 4-1. Virat Kohli and Co. landed in the UK on Thursday and wouldn’t have a lot of time to acclimatize to the conditions in England.
New Zealand, on the other hand, are currently participating in a two-match Test series against England in England. The series should prepare them well for the World Test Championship final, scheduled between 18th and 22nd June 2021.
