‘They shouldn’t get carried away’ – Wasim Akram has a piece of advice for Indian seamers ahead of WTC final

Former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

The excitement for the World Test Championship 2023 is at its highest as both India and Australia are preparing themselves to lock horns in the summit clash set to begin on June 7, at the Oval, in London. It will be the second consecutive WTC final being played in England after India and New Zealand locked horns in the 2021 final in Southampton.

Ahead of the big clash, former Pakistan seamer Wasim Akram has a piece of advice for Indian bowlers. The legendary left-arm fast bowler has advised the Indian seamers to not get carried away with the new ball and not give extra runs to Australia.

“These guys are experienced, and they shouldn’t get carried away (with the new ball). We all know it swings for 10 to 15 overs, so don’t give away extra runs in the first 10 to 15 overs as a fast bowler. (Early on) don’t get too excited if there is a bit of bounce as that is what the Australians want,” Wasim was quoted as saying by the ICC.

Akram further said that the Oval pitch generally favours teams from the sub-continent but since it will be the first time that a Test will be played at the venue in the month of June, hence he can’t predict how the pitch will behave.

“This pitch normally favours teams from the sub-continent, but whenever we toured here… it was always at the end of August or start of September. This one is in June, the square is different, fresh square, and the ball is different altogether as a Dukes,” he added.

Wasim Akram registered his best figures in England at the Oval

Notably, Wasim Akram is the leading boasts of a massive 414 wickets in his Test career in 104 matches. He registered his best-ever Test figures in England at the Oval, as he picked 6/67 in the first innings of the fifth and final Test of the series in 1992. Courtesy of his sensational bowling spell, helped his side win the series by 2-1.

Meanwhile, India and Australia are completing their preparations for the big game and working on the best possible team combinations for the final. India are having the upper hand over Australia having beaten them in the last four Test series, however, they will be playing without their star players Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant, which gives Australia a huge advantage.