WTC final: Swinging ball can be a threat for Rohit Sharma, feels Scott Styris

With the ICC World Test Championship Final (WTC) just being four days away, the cricketing world is putting their thinking hats on for making the combinations, preferences, and picking winners among India and New Zealand, who will battle it out in Southampton. Experts like Irfan Pathan, Parthiv Patel, Monty Panesar, and Venkatesh Prasad have given their verdict on which way the match would go given the seam and swing conditions on offer in England.

Now cricketer-turned-commentator Scott Styris feels if conditions favour swing then India are likely to struggle given their history. He particularly pointed to the technique of India opener Rohit Sharma, who generally doesn’t move his feet while playing shots across the ground. The former New Zealand allrounder believes that might bring his downfall while facing the likes of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, and Kyle Jamieson.

India’s preferred openers for the WTC Final are Sharma and Shubman Gill, both of whom don’t have any previous experience of opening in this part of the world. The latter has scored all of his runs predominately at home while, the former has just played seven Tests so far.

“Again, it is pitch dependent. I think I can’t stress that enough. I think if the ball is moving around then Rohit will have his struggles,” Styris told Star Sports during the Game Plan show.

“In the Select Dugout, we have done demonstrations after demonstrations about how Rohit doesn’t really move his feet a lot early in his innings. If that’s the case, then the swinging ball could be a problem for him,” he added.

Scott Styris picks Neil Wagner as the X-factor for New Zealand

Boult and Wagner are the two left-arm options for skipper Kane Williamson. Both have them have played over 50 Tests and are lethal with the ball. Styris feels Wagner can be a real threat due to his ability to consistently hit hard lengths and bowl well even with the old ball even if it’s not doing much.

“So, when you talk about Wagner, it’s his ability to be aggressive and be a genuine wicket-taking option for somebody like Kohli in those middle overs till the new ball comes around,” he said.