Tim Southee will worry the Indians most in the swing of the WTC finals, says Monty Panesar

Long-time England international Monty Panesar believes veteran fast bowler Tim Southee will be the most formidable bowler for New Zealand in the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against India next week.

Southee is in excellent form with the ball and recently picked a six-wicket haul in the drawn Lord’s Test against England last week.

The 32-year-old has a good red-ball record in England which gets even better when he plays against India, averaging just over 24 with 39 wickets from 8 Tests so far.

New Zealand also have Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Kyle Jamieson in their fast-bowler arsenal but Panesar reckons Southee will trouble the famed Indian batting lineup more than his colleagues if the ball starts swinging in Southampton.

“I think Tim Southee will trouble the Indians the most in the swinging conditions. He is quite clever. He draws the batsman in by bowling slightly wide of the crease and slightly fuller.

“And that’s gonna be the danger ball for the Indian batsman. He’s going to lure them into hitting a half volley into the covers, and he will look to swing that ball.

“So that’s the ball the Indians need to watch out for,” Panesar told Sportzoclock.

Panesar went on to add that New Zealand look a bit better side on paper as they have a more varied bowling attack than India.

“I think New Zealand look slightly the better side. The reason being they have a lot more variations. They have a left-armer, right-armer and the tall bowler Jamieson as well. And that’s a lot more difficult for a batsman to adjust to.

“So NZ will be hoping that the Indians will be preparing against the likes of a right armer and a left-armer and practicing with the ball swinging, because that is where it is going to be really testing for India,” he said.

World No. 1 Test side India will face second-ranked New Zealand in the WTC Final at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton from June 18.