New Zealand Test skipper and KKR fast bowler Tim Southee has backed his franchise’s teammate Umesh Yadav to be part of the World Test Championship final against Australia. The Kiwi pacer reckons Yadav will do well in the English conditions.
Yadav had recently bowled a good spell in the first innings of the third Test match at Indore against Australia, returning with figures of 3-12. However, the fast bowler could not deliver the goods on a flat pitch at Ahmedabad.
Yadav is well known to reverse swing the old red ball and he is the front contender to be the third seamer in the WTC Final after Mohammad Shami and Mohammad Siraj in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who is out with a back injury.
Yadav has played two Test matches in English conditions and he has scalped nine wickets at an average of 23.55.
Southee told The Telegraph in an interview: “Conditions will obviously be different in the UK. Also, Umesh has played enough Test cricket and he will be looking forward to the chance of playing in a Test Championship final in conditions that should suit his type of bowling.”
Southee continued: “He is an exciting bowler who bowls at a good pace and can swing the ball. So hopefully, he’ll do well in those English conditions.”
Meanwhile, Umesh Yadav was brilliant in the previous season, especially while bowling in the PowerPlay overs. Yadav had scalped 16 wickets in the 12 matches he played for KKR in IPL 2022 at an average of 21.18. Furthermore, the veteran bowled with a parsimonious economy rate of 7.06.
On the other hand, Southee admitted that India is a tough place to play and the more experience they have, the better it will be for their players.
“Any time that you get a chance to play in these conditions only adds to your experience of playing in this part of the world. It’s a tough place to play in and the more the guys have that experience, the better for our World Cup preparation.
“There are quite a few guys from New Zealand here (in this IPL) and that’s a positive to have those guys gaining experience of playing in these conditions, though it’s a different format. But it’s still the experience of playing in India, which counts.”
Kolkata Knight Riders will begin their IPL 2023 campaign against Punjab Kings at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali on 1st April.
