The inaugural WTC Final will begin this Friday. India will battle New Zealand for the title. This is the first time such a tournament is happening. Both teams will try their best to win the WTC Final. The winner of this battle will get the mace and a prize of USD 1.6 million.
New Zealand has dominated its opponents in the tournament. Just like India, they were unbeaten in home series. India lost only one series in the league round. It was against the Blackcaps in 2020. The Kiwis will try to record another Test win versus India. They have named a 15-man squad, and the following five squad members were born outside New Zealand.
1. Ajaz Patel – Born in India, but will play against India in WTC Final
Ajaz Patel is a left-arm spinner. He is a new player in the Kiwis squad. Recently, he played in the Tests versus England. Patel was born in Mumbai. However, he plays for the Blackcaps now.
Mitchell Santner is NZ’s first-choice spinner. However, he is suffering from an injury. Hence, the Blackcaps have included Ajaz Patel in the squad. Ajaz has played nine Tests and two T20Is for New Zealand. He has 26 Test wickets to his name.
2. Colin de Grandhomme – Played for Zimbabwe in U-19 WC, but will play for NZ in WTC Final
Colin de Grandhomme is a fast-bowling all-rounder. He was born in Harare. The 34-year-old played U-19 World Cup for Zimbabwe in 2004. However, he did not continue his career in his home country. He moved to New Zealand.
Currently, he is one of the top all-rounders in the Blackcaps squad. He has played 25 Test matches. Colin has 1,194 runs and 47 wickets to his name in Tests. It will be interesting to see if he gets a place in the playing XI for the WTC Final.
3. Neil Wagner
Neil Wagner is a Test specialist. The 35-year-old player is a left-arm pacer. He was born in Pretoria. However, he did not play for South Africa. He has been playing the longest format of the game for New Zealand.
The left-arm pacer made his Test debut back in the year 2012. He has represented New Zealand in 53 Tests. So far, he has picked up 226 wickets. It is like a World Cup Final to Wagner. He will be keen to perform well against India.
4. BJ Watling
Another South Africa-born cricketer present in New Zealand squad for WTC Final is BJ Watling. He is a wicket-keeper. Watling will retire after this match. He made his Test debut versus Pakistan in 2009. Watling has regularly played Test cricket for the Blackcaps.
So far, he has played 74 Tests. He has aggregated total 3,789 runs. His highest score in Test cricket has been 205. Watling will look forward to ending his career on a high.
5. Devon Conway
Devon Conway was born in South Africa’s Johannesburg. He could not make it in his home country. Initially, he played domestic cricket in South Africa. However, he sold his properties to move to New Zealand. Finally, he has realized his dream.
Conway kicked off his Test career with a double hundred at Lord’s. He looked in great touch in the 2nd Test against England as well. Conway has thus earned a place in the WTC Final squad of the Blackcaps. He has a chance to win an ICC Tournament Final in his third Test match only.
