Hours ahead of the World Test Championship final, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has shared an interesting video of the WTC final stars speaking about their favorite Test matches. India lock horns with the might Black Caps in the inaugural decider of the Test supremacy at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, which starts from June 18 (Friday).
Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant picked the Gabba Test held earlier this year, in which he scored an unbeaten 89 and led India to a historic win. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin named the 2001 Kolkata Test against Australia as the favorite one he has watched. He termed the Bangalore Test match against Australia in 2017 as the greatest Test he has featured in for the ‘sheer experience’ and the way India made a comeback.
Among the Kiwis, the retiring BJ Watling picked the 2018 Test series win over Pakistan in the UAE and the 2013 Test series in West Indies as special moments. Left-arm pacer Trent Boult named the seven-run win over Australia in Hobart in 2011 as a memorable one.
Sharing the video of the players talking about their favorite matches in the red-ball format, ICC wrote:
“Everyone’s got a favourite. Some of the stars of the #WTC21 Final reveal their favourite ever Test match/series #INDvNZ.”
Everyone's got a favourite 🥰
Some of the stars of the #WTC21 Final reveal their favourite ever Test match/series 🏏#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/luWccputPQ
— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2021
Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson opens about WTC final challenge
Indian captain Virat Kohli stated that one game will not determine their standing as the team and that, for them, the match against New Zealand is ‘just another game of cricket’.
“One game over five days. It’s not going to reflect anything and those who understand the game know and also what has gone over the period of last four to five years. If we win, cricket will not stop and if we lose also, cricket won’t stop. We are playing in a quest of excellence and understanding who we are as a team,” Kohli said in the press conference on the eve of the game.
On the other hand, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson reiterated that they want to learn as a team and the WTC journey has been an integral part of it.
“There has been a lot of growth over a period of time. So many challenges along the way every day. But the team has bought into it and tried to move past those with a good attitude. It’s just focusing on continuing that growth and trying to keep committing to the parts of our game that give us the best chance, and that is where I know the guys will be focusing on. We are trying to look at the long game and try and improve all the time,” Williamson said.