'You can see common sense in their planning and strategy' - Salman Butt lauds India and New Zealand for consistency throughout the WTC cycle

The World Test Championship final is under two weeks to arrive as both India and New Zealand head towards the ultimate showdown of Test cricket. A tournament that started with Australia and England’s Ashes Test in 2019 has found the top-two sides after loads of crunching action that has gone on for over two years across 27 Test series.

Defying many odds and surpassing most of the opponents, the two finalists have established themselves in the top bracket of the ICC Test rankings too, with the No. 2 New Zealand following toppers India closely. After succeeding in the hard cycle, the two teams have not earned this by fluke.

While trying to dig in what makes the two teams so special and strong, former Pakistan batter Salman Butt reckoned common sense, game awareness, correct application and hard work to be the most crucial virtues, which both these teams have in plenty. Answering his co-host during an interaction on his YouTube channel, Butt lauded both the teams for their consistency throughout the WTC cycle.

India and New Zealand know exactly what to do when: Salman Butt

“Their basic application towards the game is very strong. The game awareness of their players across all the formats is extremely strong, they are very alert to the situation. They also pay a lot of attention to detail, they know exactly what to do when.

“You can see common sense in their planning and strategy. In Test cricket, when there is a need to dig in, they also score 20 runs in 100 balls. When there is a need to score quickly, they are scoring quickly,” Salman Butt said on his YouTube channel.

“In reality, such understanding and command of the game don’t come easy. It comes when you spend years playing first-class cricket and that is where you learn the skill. It comes after playing four-day cricket, something we are tired of propagating and hoping somebody understands the point,” said Butt emphasizing the role of domestic cricket.

Currently, the Indian team is fulfilling the mandatory quarantine in Southampton’s Hilton Hotel, located on the premises of the Ageas Bowl, the final’s venue, whereas the New Zealand team is up against England at Lord’s in the first of the two-Test series.