Shane Warne
Shane Warne (Image Credit: Twitter)

Former Pakistan batsman Salman Butt opined that New Zealand picked a team to their strength and did not trust their spin attack against the Indian batsman. Shane Warne’s tweet on his displeasure over New Zealand not playing a spinner in their playing XI was examined by Salman Butt and he gave his opinion on that.

New Zealand picked four frontline pacers and Colin De Grandhomme as the all-rounder in the side to leave out Ajaz Patel from the playing XI. The combination might go wrong and it did play in the minds of experts especially, the legendary spinner Shane Warne. The World Test Championship final kicked off yesterday and India is looking in a formidable position at 146 for three wickets at the end of day two’s play.

Salman Butt
Salman Butt. (Image- AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Salman Butt Backs The Decision Of New Zealand management

Salman Butt mentioned that the quality Indian spinners will use the moisture on the pitch to much effect while he pointed out that New Zealand has lacked a world-class spinner who could do well on any pitch. He added that India plays spin really well and it was better for New Zealand to play without a spinner.

“The ball call spin even if there is moisture on the pitch. Teams that have quality spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja can utilize the conditions and pick wickets. New Zealand do not have a world-class spinner and, secondly, India plays spin very well. So New Zealand must have taken both factors into consideration,” Salman Butt reviewed on his Youtube channel.

Shane Warne
Shane Warne (Image Credit: Twitter)

Salman Butt Opines On Shane Warne’s Tweet

Salman Butt notified that Shane Warne did not suggest which spinner should have played and it remains a dilemma if Ajaz Patel should have played. But that would leave out a frontline pacer and if they wanted to leave out De Grandhomme, they don’t have the services of Mitchell Santner in the 15 member squad who has been relatively out of form. He concluded that New Zealand stuck with its strength and India managed to do the same.

“Shane Warne expressed his disapproval over Black Caps’ decision to not play any spinner in the WTC final. But, he also did not suggest which spinner New Zealand should have picked. Should they have played Ajaz Patel? Mitchell Santner’s form has been so poor that he wasn’t even picked in the 15-member squad for the WTC final.”

“Against Pakistan as well, he dismissed tailenders and not proper batsmen. The way India dominates spinners, they could have taken 60-70 runs off Santner’s 10 overs. New Zealand stuck to their strengths, so did Team India,”  Salman Butt added.

Ajaz Patel
Ajaz Patel (Image Credit: Twitter)

So far, the pitch has allowed a lot of seam movement and the spinners might come into the fray in the upcoming days.

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