Ntini talks ahead of World Test Championship Final

With just days to go until South Africa and Australia do battle for the World Test Championship mace, I had the opportunity to sit in on a World Test Championship Virtual Round Table, hosted by Supersport and Proteas legend, Makhaya Ntini.

There are always going to be some interesting insights when a former player of the calibre of Makhaya Ntini is involved and moderator Philasande Sixaba made sure the session got off to a great start when he had Ntini talking about his famous 10-wicket haul.

Two of the key insights for me were those regarding the infamous Lords “slope” and that of the Dukes ball, which will be used in the Test Championship Final.

• Ntini mentioned some interesting insights into the Lord’s slope – which is a geographical gradient at Lord’s Cricket Ground, where the slope of the cricket pitch runs from the north end of the ground to the south end. What this all means is that for players like Ntini – who is the only South African to take a 10-wicket haul at Lord’s – and possibly Marco Jansen, is that the slope could be used to good effect by bowlers who bowl from the Nursery End, as it generally takes the ball away from right-handed batsmen. Many who have played on the hallowed Lord’s ground have found it difficult going at first, however if the South African team have done their homework properly, most of our bowlers, who have never played at Lord’s, will have some idea of what to expect.

• The use of the Dukes ball is an interesting addition to this final as for the most part, both the South African and the Australians have played most, if not all, of their previous test matches using the Kookaburra. The Dukes has a more pronounced seam as well as a lacquer finish that the bowlers will not be used to and as Ntini explained, the bowlers will probably have spent much of the build-up getting used to the weight and the feel of the ‘new’ ball ahead of this important clash.

But that is not the only issue with the upcoming World Test Championship Final.

The fact that it has taken both teams two years to get to this point and we still have to have a ‘knockout’ final on neutral ground leaves one wondering whether there is any importance in finishing atop the test rankings and why there is only one knockout game. No semi-finals. Nada. Surely ending on top should give one ‘home-ground’ advantage or is this just another ploy to maintain the importance of the big three Cricket Administrations? I mean they play more cricket than anyone else (See below…)

Then there is the issue of that dreaded five letter word – final! Can the Proteas finally bring home a trophy that they have won in a final? Recent history and performances have not been all that kind to the many different Proteas squads and fans will be silently hoping that this squad has what it takes to return home victorious.

The Proteas come into this final having won eight (8) of the twelve (12) matches they played allowing them to qualify as Test Championship table toppers.

The Australians won thirteen (13) of their nineteen (19) matches which saw them finish in second spot on the table.

Key players to watch are:

South Africa – Bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen and batters, Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma.

Australia – Bowlers Mitch Starc and Josh Hazlewood and batters, Travis Head and Sam Konstas.