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Wtc Final Ecstatic Bj Watling Walks Away From International Cricket With Special Achievement

WTC Final | 'Ecstatic' BJ Watling walks away from international cricket with 'special' achievement

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling had well in advance announced the plans of hanging his boots after the tour of England which were to end with the World Test Championship final against India.

As New Zealand humbled India to clinch the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship, Watling did not hide his ‘ecstatic’ feeling while taking to the official broadcaster Star Sports.

He said that the target of 139 runs could well have been a trickier target if not for the ‘two of our greatest’ in Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, who put on an unbeaten partnership to take the Blackcaps over the finishing line.

He also said that the finish of his career with a world champions New Zealand side was not something that he did ‘imagine’ while starting off his international career.

"Ecstatic. Been a lot of hard work over a long period of time as a group. To get over the line is special. Chasing a total like that on a wicket that was offering a bit, was special from two of our greatest. No, I didn't imagine I'd end as a World Test Champion,” Watling said.

He thanked his family and friends, especially his mother, and wife for standing by him in tough times throughout a ‘hell of a journey.’ He also thanked his New Zealand mates of a ‘special’ group that carried the team to a great finish in the World Test Championship final against India.

My family back home, my mum has stood up for me in tough times, my wife Jess and the two boys - a thank you to all of them. It's been a hell of a journey. Huge support over the years from my mates. We've got a special group, this is a great way to finish,” Watling concluded.

Watling made his Test debut against Pakistan in 2009 and went on to become one of the longest-serving gloveman for the Blackcaps with 74 appearances in the longest format.

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WTC Final | Virat Kohli defends playing two spinners, reiterates support for World Test Championship

India skipper Virat Kohli said that the Indian team management made a ‘unanimous’ decision of naming a playing XI that had two spinners in it as they believed it was the ‘best-balanced team’ they could have fielded to cover all the bases against New Zealand. He said that India could have fielded a different playing XI only if they have had the luxury of a fast-bowling all-rounder but they backed their players to produce goods in the big game. Pointing out the factors that found his side come up short against a relentless Blackcaps side, Kohli said that the rain break towards the end of the second day’s play and a delayed start on the next day derailed the momentum that India were riding on having lots just three wickets. Former England captain Michael Atherton, who was one of the commentators and the host of the post-presentation ceremony, pressed Kohli on the relevance of the World Test Championship and its impact on the overall state of the longest format of the game. Kohli reiterated his support for the global championship in Test cricket and said that it will energise the competitions among teams which will lead to a lack of ‘boring’ Tests as teams will be in pursuit of results.

Tim Southee relishes 'rewarding' World Test Championship triumph after years of hard work

One of the chief architects of New Zealand’s rise to the top of the world in Test cricket, Tim Southee called winning the World Test Championship final a ‘rewarding’ result for all the hard work put in by the side over the last couple of years. “Yes, sounds pretty good. Two years ago we started this journey and winning the WTC is regarding all the hard work,” Southee told official broadcaster Star Sports. Pointing out what made New Zealand a competitive side in the WTC cycle that began in 2019, Southee said that the Blackcaps made a habit of not giving up at any stage, and the team management adopted a consistency in team selection while players repaid the faith with consistency in performances. “I think consistency is the key. Consistency through selection, consistency through performances, never giving up. Satisfying to be able to sit back and see what we have achieved in the last two years. Pretty special feeling this,” Southee added. New Zealand were given a target of 139 runs which could have been a tricky target to chase if not for the experience of Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson and Southee said that the duo settled things down in the New Zealand dressing room. “Yes, the change room is a lot calmer with two experienced guys out there. Once they got in, it was probably the longest 140 runs we have ever experienced but ut was nice to have two experienced guys in the middle to do the job,” Southee said. Southee also credited BJ Watling for an outstanding career at the international level and said that his behaviour throughout the course of his career epitomises New Zealand’s team culture. "His behaviour best sums up what this team means for and one of our champion bloke, champion cricketer going on a high,” Southee reckoned. New Zealand’s win over India in the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship will serve as a great sense of pride among their fans after a heartbreaking loss in the final of the ODI World Cup two years back.

WTC Final | NZ reel under huge pressure as Ashwin surpases Cummins on wicket-takers' list

Ravichandran Ashwin has gone past Pat Cummins on the list of leading wicket-takers in the World Test Championship that is scheduled to end with the final between India and New Zealand. He reached the milestone after the wicket of opener Devon Conway on the final day of the contest. Ashwin so far has taken 71 wickets from 14 WTC matches while Cummins has 70 dismissals to his name. Ashwin also has a better average of 20.16 runs per wicket than Cummins who has taken wickets at 21.02 apiece. India set a target of 139 runs for New Zealand to chase and win the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship and the openers Tom Latham and Conway provided them with yet another impressive start. Ashwin first deceived Latham in the flight for the second time in the match and followed it up with another wicket of Conway. He turned the ball to beat an advancing Latham with a hint of turn while Conway was done in by the one that kept on going with the arm. India were not rocked early on the final day by Kyle Jamieson, who dismissed Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara very early on in the day and the lower-order batsmen could not weather the relentless Kiwi bowling attack.

Bangladesh Squad: Shakib included in Test team for Zimbabwe series, Nurul Hasan makes an all format comeback

Shakib Al Hasan has made a comeback to the Bangladesh Test side after skipping the Sri Lanka Tests in favour of the Indian Premier League. Along with him, wicketkeeper-batsman, Nurul Hasan has also made a comeback across formats in the tour. Other players making a comeback in various formats include off-spinner Nayeem Hassan (Test), Rubel Hossain and Taijul Islam (ODIs) and Aminul Islam (T20Is). "Getting the best player (Shakib) in three formats is always a plus point and we are hopeful that the team will be morally boosted up by his presence. We are hoping to have a good performance from him," Chief selector Minhajul Abedin said on Shakib’s inclusion in the squad. Nurul, who last played a Test in 2018 and limited-overs cricket in 2017 (T20I) for Banglades, has made a comeback purely on his domestic form including his impressive run in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League. The 27-year-old has scored 246 runs in the nine innings of the T20 tournament with an impressive average of 41. "If you consider the present performance he deserves to make a comeback in three formats. When we took him with us in Sri Lanka team management was very happy with him with his skill set," Minhaj said about Nurul’s inclusion in the side. Uncapped Shamim Patowary, the U-19 star is the only fresh face who made his way to the squad. He has been included in the T20I team. The Test will be played from July 7 while the ODIs are scheduled on July 16, 18 and 20 in Harare. wThe three T20Is will also be played at the same venue on July 23, 25 and 27. Bangladesh T20I squad: Mahmudullah (c), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Afif Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Naim Sheikh, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Shamim Hossain, Aminul Islam, Shakib Al Hasan and Nurul Hasan Bangladesh ODI squad: Tamim Iqbal (c), Mohammad Naim, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Nurul Hasan, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam and Rubel Hossain. Bangladesh Test squad: Mominul Haque (c), Tamim Iqbal, Shadman Islam, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das, Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Abu Jayed, Ebadot Hossain, Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam.