India v New Zealand: World Test Championship final, day two – live!

“Do you think this test will last the full 5 days? In these overcast swinging conditions I will give it 3.5 days max.” Maybe, Samya, maybe. But conditions don’t always deliver. You never know whether it’s going to swing until it swings. And even if it does, maybe an opener bunkers down through that period and then goes on to a big score, and we’re into a batting-heavy day.

“Good to see two teams not playing just to get ready for the Ashes!” says Arnab. “Hoping for a good day with weirdly similar looking skippers.”

Yes, hello Chris Silverwood if you’re reading. The Ashes, The Ashes, The Ashes. Now and forever. Here are some thoughts on that situation.

On the other side of southern England, Shafali Verma of India’s women’s team will resume her innings this morning in Bristol on 55 not out. Added to her 96 in the first innings, that’s 151 runs in the match so far for the 17-year-old on Test debut. We’ll have an OBO of that match running concurrently to this, with play starting half an hour after play in our match. But I’ll be keeping an eye on Shafali’s tally here too.

We already know India’s XI, because they confirmed it a couple of days ago.

India
Rohit Sharma
Shubman Gill
Cheteshwar Pujara
Virat Kohli *
Ajinkya Rahane
Rishabh Pant +
Ravindra Jadeja
Ravichandran Ashwin
Mohammed Shami
Ishant Sharma
Jasprit Bumrah

Three excellent fast bowlers. One off-spinner and one left-arm orthodox spinner, both of whom have also made Test centuries. A dynamic wicketkeeper-bat at six, and five quality specialist bats above that. It’s a potent team.

New Zealand
Tom Latham
Devon Conway
Kane Williamson *
Ross Taylor
Henry Nicholls
BJ Watling +

Then all but one of

Colin de Grandhomme
Kyle Jamieson
Neil Wagner
Tim Southee
Trent Boult
Ajaz Patel

The first is the all-rounder who could shore up the batting or counter-attack as well as bowling economical seam. The next four are fast bowlers of very different type and skill, each with its merits. The last is the left-arm orthodox spinner. Still not sure which way they’ll go. Matt Henry is the other fast bowler in the squad but won’t (by my guess) be in consideration.

You know this bit. The OBO gets a bit lonely without company. It’s nice to see emails clunking into the box with people’s thoughts and concerns, hopes and dreams, wants and fears, wry asides, pessimistic wails, cries from the heart. I’m also quite good with relationship advice, so if you need a hand then we might be able to sort some problems during the quieter overs.

Email is [email protected], or bird me at @GeoffLemonSport.