Ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand at The Rose Bowl in Southampton, we take a look at some interesting stats:
0
India have never played a Test match at a neutral venue before. The WTC final will be their first such Test.
1
Wicket needed by Ishant Sharma to become the leading Indian wicket-taker in Tests in England. Ishant is currently tied with Kapil Dev on 43 victims.
2
Wickets needed by R Ashwin to reach 50 against New Zealand in Tests. Ashwin will become the fourth Indian bowler to do so, after Bishan Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna and Anil Kumble.
4
Ajinkya Rahane has been dismissed four times by Tim Southee and averages just 6.00 against the New Zealand pacer. In all, the Indian vice-captain has managed just 24 runs against the Kiwi swing maestro from 110 balls at a strike-rate of only 21.82.
6
The position Rohit Sharma batted at in his only Test match so far in England, which was the third Test against the hosts at Southampton in 2014. Rohit scored 28 and 6 in that match.
9
Ishant (303) and Ashwin (409) require nine more wickets each to go past Zaheer Khan (311) and Harbhajan Singh (417) respectively. Ishant will then become the fifth highest wicket-taker ever for India, while Ashwin will reach the third position.
10
The WTC final will be only the 10th Test match ever at a neutral venue, excluding the UAE where Pakistan regularly host teams. It will also be the sixth neutral Test match to be hosted by England.
34
India’s win-loss ratio in England (seven wins, 34 losses, 0.205) is their worst in any country. The 34 Test losses are also the highest for India away from home.
4/57
The best figures in a Test innings by an Indian bowler in Southampton, taken by Mohammed Shami in the fourth Test against England in 2018.
132
Cheteshwar Pujara is the only Indian batsman to score a Test century at Southampton. Pujara made an unbeaten 132 in India’s first innings of the fourth Test against England in 2018.
Featured photo: Saeed Khan / AFP
