Ex-England tweaker Monty Panesar feels defensive bowling skill will give left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja an upper hand against NZ in WTC final
Ravindra Jadeja celebrates the wicket of Australia’s Matthew Wade on Day Two of the third Test at Sydney earlier this year. Pic/AFP
Former England left-arm spinner Monty Panesar feels all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja "will be the X-factor" when India take on the Kane Williamson-led New Zealand in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton from June 18 onwards.
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Panesar said on Saturday that while a lot will depend on how the International Cricket Council (ICC) prepares the pitch for the inaugural WTC final, "spinners will also play a crucial role" in the summit clash.
Monty Panesar
"For me, Ravindra Jadeja will be the X-factor. He's been in terrific form in the Indian Premier League. If India decides to go with just one spinner, I'll go with Jadeja instead of (Ravichandran) Ashwin as the spin-bowling option. Jadeja's defensive bowling skill and being a left-armer give him an upper hand," Panesar told media.
During the IPL 2021 season, which was postponed indefinitely on May 4 due to a breach in the bio-secure bubble, Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Jadeja amassed 131 runs at 162.32 and picked up six wickets.
Panesar who was a part of the England side between 2006 and 2013 and played a half century of Tests, taking 167 wickets, added that for the five-match Test series against India after the WTC final, England would bring in the home advantage and "go with green wickets".
"Spinners will also play a crucial role in the WTC final in Southampton. We'll have to see how the ICC prepares the pitch for the event. For the Test series, England will obviously go with a green wicket. But for the WTC final, I think the ICC should prepare a neutral wicket. It'll be the perfect advertisement for the WTC if the final spans over 4 or 5 days," Panesar said.
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