December 07, 2025 04:52 pm (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Centre imposes temporary fare caps as ticket prices defy gravity amid IndiGo meltdown | 'Action is coming': Aviation Minister blames IndiGo for countrywide air travel chaos | In front of Putin, PM Modi makes bold statement on Russia-Ukraine war: ‘India is not neutral, we side with peace!’ | Rupee weakens following RBI repo rate cut | RBI slashes repo rate by 25 basis points — big relief coming for borrowers! | 'Mamata fooled Muslims': Humayun Kabir explodes after TMC suspends him over 'Babri Masjid-style mosque' demand; announces new party | Mosque in the middle of Kolkata airport? Centre confirms flight risks, BJP fires at Mamata | Sam Altman is betting big on India! OpenAI in advanced talks with Tata to build AI infrastructure | Government removes mandatory pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi App. Know all details | Calcutta HC overturns controversial Bengal job annulment — 32,000 teachers rejoice!
World Test Championship
Image Credit: UNI

WTC Final: Swinging ball could be a problem for Rohit, says Scott Styris

| @indiablooms | Jun 15, 2021, at 03:56 am

New Delhi/UNI: Former New Zealand cricketer Scott Styris feels India opener Rohit Sharma might struggle against the swinging ball during the World Test Championship final against the Kiwis, scheduled to be played in Southampton on June 18.

New Zealand are heading into the final match on the back of a convincing test series win against England in England. On the other hand, India does not have competition action under the belt in the lead up to the WTC final.

Head groundsman at Southampton Simon Lee is aiming to produce a pacy and bouncy pitch for final with some assistance for spinners later on in the game.

"It is pitch dependent... I think I can't stress that enough. I think if the ball is moving around then Rohit will have his struggles," Styris said during Star Sports' show 'Game Plan'.

"Rohit doesn't really move his feet a lot early in his innings. If that's the case, then the swinging ball could be a problem for him,” he said.

The former all-rounder Styris also highlighted New Zealand's pace attack and explained Neil Wagner's role in the bowling mix.

"There is no secret to New Zealand's fast bowling plan if you like and that is Southee, Boult and either Jamieson or de Grandhomme will be the third seamer and they bowled till about the 22nd to 28th over with a new ball," he said.

"And then Neil Wagner comes into the equation. So, when you talk about Wagner, it's his ability to be aggressive and be a genuine wicket-taking option for somebody like (Virat) Kohli in those middle overs till the new ball comes around,” he added.

Speaking on the same show, former India wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel said that Indian captain Virat Kohli might need to give himself sometime and take inspiration from his last England tour.

"I think probably he will have to give himself a bit of time and try to think what he did in 2018 -- where he got number of hundreds," Parthiv said.

"So, probably he is better equipped than what he was in 2014, but there will be challenges and there will be challenges of variety of fast bowlers. Reason being -- it is not a one-dimensional fast bowling attack," he added.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.