ICC WTC Final: Brendon McCullum Names His Favourites Between India And New Zealand

Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum opined on who will win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final and put it 60-40 in favor of Kane Williamson’s New Zealand over Virat Kohli’s India. He also said that he expects the ICC WTC final to be a close-fought affair.

India defeated Australia in Australia 2-1 to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and then beat England 3-1 at home to qualify for the ICC WTC final, while Kane Williamson’s New Zealand qualified for the ICC WTC Final, without playing a single Test match outside their home.

The Match Practice That New Zealand Are Going To Have Leading Into The Final Could Just Title It In Their Way: Brendon McCullum

The New Zealand team is currently on the tour of England where they will play two Tests before the ICC WTC Final, with the first match to begin on June 2^nd at the Lord’s in London. India is currently in quarantine in Mumbai. The players and the support staff will arrive in England on June 3 following and will be in managed isolation, meaning they will be allowed to train gradually after the necessary negative RT-PCR tests in Southampton.

Kane Williamson’s players have started their outdoor sessions and have played a practice match as well in Southampton the venue of the WTC Final and this is why Brendon McCullum thinks it will be 60-40 in New Zealand’s favor because they will have more practice than India.

“I think 60-40 in favor of New Zealand. It’s going to be close. The match practice that New Zealand are going to have leading into the final could just title it in their way. I think it’s going to be close. Just as New Zealand respects India, as a fan, I will respect India, knowing how good they are and the fighting spirit they have. I think we are in for a ripping World Test Championship final. May the best team win and the best game,” Brendon McCullum told Sports Today.

India is likely to be allowed to play an intra-squad practice game before the World Test Championship final, as they will be traveling with a 20-man squad with 4 players in reserve as well.

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