Will Be Tricky To Finalize Bowling Department For WTC Final, Says New Zealand's Kane Williamson

Hours before the start of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India at the Ageas Bowl here, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said his team would be focusing on its main strength - bowling - when it takes on the Virat Kohli-led side on Friday.

In a video posted on the International Cricket Council (ICC) website, Williams said on Friday that, "For us we want to focus on the cricket that we want to play. It's important to our team to go out there and enjoy the occasion. A number of guys that have been playing well, same bowlers that have been contributing really well for a period of time, which is great," said Williamson, indicating that the New Zealand fast-bowling battery will come hard at India over the next few days.

"There is some depth in that (bowling) department, which is very important to our team, so there'll be some tricky but good conversations to have in finalising them (bowlers). There's been a lot of growth in our side over a period of time, so many challenges along the way every day and the World Test Championship final is a culmination of that," said Williamson.

During the recently-concluded two-Test series against England, New Zealand bowlers were a handful for the hosts, helping the visitors win 1-0.

While in the first Test at Lord's, New Zealand batsman Devon Conway slammed a double century and Tim Southee took six first-innings wickets, in the second Test at Edgbaston, Trent Boult and Matt Henry took four and three wickets respectively in the first innings to put England on the back-foot.

The duo returned in the second innings to help New Zealand to an eight-wicket win.

Williamson said New Zealand will take India lightly at its own risk.

"We know in cricket anything can happen. This is the final and both teams need to win, so both teams have prepared as well as they could. It is a one-off in cricket and anything can happen. We're really looking forward to the match the players are looking forward to getting involved.

"We'll be realistic, we know India are an incredibly strong side all around the world, and rightly so. (They are) recognised as the best team. You have these (ICC) rankings, all these types of different things. They take slightly different shapes every day, but we know that the challenges are very, very strong against this Indian side," said Williamson, indicating that ICC Test rankings don't matter when playing against a strong opposition like India.

New Zealand are the No. 1 Test team in the world, while India are second.

"For us we want to focus on the cricket that we want to play," added Williamson.

Being the top-ranked side
Team selection
@BLACKCAPS' journey to Southampton

Skipper Kane Williamson chats how his team is shaping up ahead of the #WTC21 Final #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/EEOJleWEF7

— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2021