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THURSDAY 3 JUNE 2021 India,I NZ on equal terms for final: Kohli We are on equal terms. The conditions are as potent for NNew Zealand as they are for us. Whichever team performs wwell session by session, hour by hour, is going to win that cchampionship. In the past, we’ve landed three days prior tto the schedule and had a great tour.

India captain Virat Kohli Sport | 18

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: Bosnia and Herzegovina 0-0 Montenegro, Belarus 1-2 Azerbaijan, North Macedonia 1-1 Slovenia Joint Asian Qualifiers: Hosts The players have put a lot of efforts in training. Our Qatar ready to take on India preparation for the match is good. The target FAWAD HUSSAIN Qatari players take part in a training session, watched by coach Felix is to put a strong THE PENINSULA Sanchez, yesterday ahead of their Group E match against India at the performance and achieve Joint Asian Qualifiers for 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Qatar’s head coach Felix Cup. PIC: HUSSEIN SAYED good result: Qatar coach Sanchez has expressed confi- Felix Sanchez dence on his team’s prepara- tions ahead of the Group E match against India at the Joint Asian Qualifiers for 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup. The match will be played today at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium with the kick off set for 8:00pm. Reigning Asian cham- pions Qatar are eyeing to retain their top spot in the group in the remaining matches. Al Annabi are on top in the group with 16 points after almost a perfect show in the event as they only dropped points against India after a goalless draw in September 2019. Oman are second in the group with 12 points. Qatar are returning to action after an impressive per- formance in the ‘friendly’ TODAY'S FIXTURES European Qualifiers in which PRELIMINARY ROUND 2: GROUP E they appeared as a guest side. They defeated Luxembourg BANGLADESH VS AFGHANISTAN (1-0) and Azerbaijan (2-1) before 5:00pm at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium holding Republic of Ireland to a 1-1 draw in March. QATAR VS INDIA The home side will be 8:00pm at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium boosted by the return of star Akram Afif – who missed weeks of action due to injury pre-match press conference games and you have to play missing March friendlies against “But I reiterate that such a They (Qatar) are such a - as Sanchez named 27-player yesterday. well to win. It is going to be a Oman and the UAE. result can happen in one out of squad for the Asian “The players have put a lot competitive match,” Sanchez Stimac hoped his team will 10 games – to get a point against quality team and the best Qualifiers. of efforts in training. Our prep- said before expressing his repeat a good show against the Qatar. They are such a quality team in Asia. We need to The squad also includes aration for the match is good. content over Afif’s recovery. Asian champions but cautioned team and the best team in Asia. striker Almoez Ali, Akram Afif, The target is to put a strong per- Coached by Igor Stimac, his players about the difficult We need to work a lot harder work a lot harder to get Hasan Alhaydos and formance and achieve good India are fourth in the standings challenge ahead. to get continuous success continuous success Abdelkarim Hassan. result,” said Sanchez. with three points and they aim “We are very proud of what against better sides. It will be an against better sides. Coach Sanchez said the The head coach expected a to secure an automatic place in we achieved in the last game. extremely difficult game,” said team is focused to win the tough match against Indian the third round of the Qualifiers That was a big surprise to eve- Stimac. It will be an extremely group after working hard in the against whom his side played a for the AFC Asian Cup China ryone all over the world – India In today’s first Group E difficult game: India training camp. draw. 2023. holding Asian champions Qatar match, Bangladesh and Afghan- “We are ready for the match “That match against India Star Sunil Chhetri will make in Doha,” India coach said istan will square off at the same coach Igor Stimac against India,” he told a was tough. There are no easy a return for the ‘Blues’ after yesterday. venue at 5pm.

Ronan Whelan guides Sonaiyla at the Curragh racetrack in Ireland yesterday. PIC: RACING POST : Serena through to third round after second-set blip

REUTERS – PARIS YESTERDAY'S RESULTS: (SELECTED) MEN'S SINGLES: SECOND ROUND Former world number one Alexander Zverev (6), Germany, def. Roman Safiullin, Serena Williams, chasing a Russia, 7-6 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (1). record-tying 24th Henri Laaksonen, Switzerland, def. Roberto Bautista singles title, overcame a Agut (11), Spain, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. second-set blip to reach the Fabio Fognini (27), Italy, def. Marton Fucsovics, Sonaiyla lands Gr3 Qatar French Open third round with Hungary, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 6-2. a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 win against John Isner (31), United States, def. Filip Krajinovic, Racing And Equestrian Romania’s Mihaela Buzarnescu Serbia, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 7-6 (5). yesterday. Serena Williams Kei Nishikori, Japan, def. Karen Khachanov (23), Three-time Roland Garros of the US in action Russia, 4-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Club Ballyogan Stakes champion Williams, who has during her second Stefanos Tsitsipas (5), Greece, def. Pedro Martinez, been stuck on 23 major titles round match Spain, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3. THE PENINSULA – CURRAGH, IRELAND since 2017, one behind Mar- against Reilly Opelka (32), United States, def. Jaume garet Court’s all-time record, Romania’s Mihaela Munar, Spain, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5. Pablo Carreno Busta (12), Spain, def. Enzo Couacaud, The Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) sponsored the went through the gears in the Buzarnescu. Group 3 Qatar Racing And Equestrian Club Ballyogan Stakes opening set before letting her France, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. at the Curragh racetrack in Ireland yesterday. The black-type guard down. WOMEN'S SINGLES: SECOND ROUND event over six furlongs for three-year-old and older fillies and The 39-year-old, who is however, prevailed in the key Belarusian battle 7-5, 6-3 to Ana Bogdan, Romania, def. Naomi Osaka (2), mares was won by the five-year-old mare Sonaiyla, who seeded seventh in Paris but has moments as she set up a move into the third round. Japan, walkover. carries the colours of Moyglare Stud Farm. not been past the fourth round meeting with fellow American Meanwhile, Greek fifth seed , Russia, def. Belinda Bencic (10), Trained by Paddy Twomey and ridden by Ronan Whelan, here since reaching the final in . Stefanos Tsitsipas strolled past Switzerland, 6-2, 6-2. the mare started favourite in the 13-runner race. Leaving the 2016, fell 4-2 behind in the Williams has come agonis- Spaniard Pedro Martinez 6-3, Polona Hercog, Slovenia, def. Caroline Garcia, gates, she dived sharply to the left before her jockey managed second set as Buzarnescu broke ingly close to matching Court’s 6-4, 6-3 in a scrappy contest to France, 7-5, 6-4. to bring her back into the race. The field came over to the for the first time. record since winning the 2017 reach the third round in the Paula Badosa, Spain, def. Danka Kovinic, Montenegro, stand’s side rail, with Sonaiyla in mid-division. But the American was back . Men's side. 6-2, 6-0. There was not much pace in the early stages, but the rhythm to her dominant self as she stole She has fallen in four Grand Tsitsipas, who reached the Danielle Collins, United States, def. Anhelina began to pick up at the half-way stage. Racing inside the final her opponent’s serve in the next Slam finals and earlier this year semi-finals in 2020, is con- Kalinina, Ukraine, 6-0, 6-2. 400 metres, Sonaiyla came to join More Beautiful on the lead. game and set up two break lost in the semi-finals at the sidered one of the main con- (15), Belarus, def. Clara Tauson, Teresa Mendoza came to challenge, but Sonaiyla pulled clear, points in the 11th game. Australian Open. tenders to challenge Rafa Nadal , 7-5, 6-4. only to have Romantic Proposal fly up on her outside. Buzarnescu kept her com- Following that she for the title at Roland Garros Madison Keys (23), United States, def. Leylah The two ran neck and neck for several strides before posure to stave them off and underwent oral surgery and after the 22-year-old's triumph Annie Fernandez, Canada, 6-1, 7-5. Sonaiyla found an extra burst to hit the line half a length in level for 5-5 before sealing the played only three Tour-level at the Monte-Carlo Masters and (31), Russia, def. Ajla front of her challenger, who is trained by Edward Lynam and second set on Williams’s serve. matches heading into the in Lyon in the lead-up to the Tomljanovic, Australia, 6-2, 6-3. was ridden by Shane Crosse. Teresa Mendoza held on well Williams was 4-0 up after French Open, winning one. claycourt Grand Slam. Serena Williams (7), United States, def. Mihaela for third, one and a half lengths further behind, for trainer breaking twice in the decider Later, third-seed Aryna He set up a third-round Buzarnescu, Romania, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1. Jessica Harrington and jockey Ben Coen. but the scoreline did not reflect Sabalenka littered Court meeting with American John Aryna Sabalenka (3), Belarus, def. Aliaksandra Clearly estimated by her connections, Sonaiyla is entered the fight the Romanian put up Suzanne Lenglen with dozens Isner, who defeated Serbian Sasnovich, Belarus, 7-5, 6-3. in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and King’s Stand Stakes, both to stay in the contest. of unforced errors but still beat Filip Krajinovic 7-6(6), 6-1, Elena Rybakina (21), Kazakhstan, def. Nao Hibino, Group 1 races over five furlongs, at Royal Ascot. Williams’s experience, in their 7-6(5). Japan, 6-3, 6-1. THURSDAY 3 JUNE 2021 SPORT 19

QVA and RVF sign agreement Al Hammadi re-elected as Executive Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) President Ali bin Member of Arab Shooting Federation Ghanim Al Kuwari (left) Abdullah Ali Al Mutawa Al and President of the Hammadi, member of the Volleyball Federation of Board of Directors of the Russia (RVF), Stanislav Qatar Archery and Archery Shevchenko during the Federation, was re-elected as signing of a memorandum Executive Member of the Arab of understanding yesterday. Shooting Federation during the The highlights of the General Assembly meeting in agreement include holding Egypt, yesterday. joint training courses, sports Al Hammadi expressed his camps and friendly matches happiness to continue working between the Russian and with the Executive Committee Qatari volleyball and beach and thanked the President of volleyball teams and also the Arab Shooting Federation the exchange of expertise in Eng. Duaij Khalaf Al Otaibi and organising competitions. the members for his re-election. Poland rest Lewandowski Euro: Ronaldo backed by Missing semis in 1-1 draw would be seen talented Portugal squad asas failure for with Russia AP – LISBON Madrid team that thrived in the England:England: SSouthgate Spanish league. AP – WROCLAW, POLAND A record-chasing Cristiano Also included in the Euro WeW kknownow ththee eexcitementxc around Ronaldo won’t be the only 2020 squad was 22-year-old Poland rested Robert Lewandowski attraction for Portugal when it forward Pedro Gonçalves, tthehe teamteeam and it’s great, we’re now for a 1-1 draw with old rival Russia tries to win a second straight who has never played for the relevant.reellevant. We’veWe’ve beenb to two semi- on Tuesday in a warm-up for the European Championship title. senior national team. finalsffinaalss so the nextnext step is to try to European Championship. Ronaldo will attempt to Gonçalves was key in helping Poland took the lead in the fourth become the all-time leading Sporting Lisbon win its first Por- ggo ffurther.urther. I’ve ggoto to try to minute when Przemyslaw scorer with a national team, but tuguese league title since 2002. mmamanageanaage the eexpectationsxpe for the Frankowski got in behind the Russian this time there will be a lot more “The list is not the result of an pplplayers.ayyers. I accept thet situation as a defensive line and laid the ball off for to watch for in Portugal’s squad. analysis of two or three days,” Jakub Swierczok to score his first The defending champions are Santos said. “If I called up these mmamanagernnaaga er there’s eexpectation, I international goal. Russia hit back in bringing one their most talented players, it’s because they all have hhahavevvee to deliver.deliver. WeW have to deliver the 21st when Vyacheslav Karavaev teams in years to Euro 2020, great quality.” as a ggrouproup of staff, it’s not sneaked in at the far post to score off loaded with players who can There could have been even Alexander Golovin’s cross from deep. support Ronaldo and make Por- more talent in Portugal’s squad ababoutout mmee inin terms of if we Lewandowski watched with the tugal a contender again. had youngster Pedro Neto not cacann be ssuccessful.uc Of course substitutes after coach Paulo Sousa The talent pool is arguably been ruled out because of a knee it’s aboaboutu me if we fail, so opted to give him time to recover greater than it was five years ago injury. He was one of the best after a hectic season with Bayern in France, when Portugal won the players for Wolverhampton nnoo pproblem.r That’s Munich. title with a squad that succeeded in his first year as a regular thtthee gig. Earlier, Inter Milan midfielder with efficiency rather than starter and also had estab- EnEngland manager Ivan Perisic scored on his 100th extraordinary play. lished himself in Portu- appearance for Croatia in a 1-1 draw The Portuguese earned the gal’s squad. GarethGa Southgate with Armenia, whose Colombia-born trophy with only one victory in Dias and midfielder Wbeymar equalized from 90 minutes during the entire Silva, EnriqueEnrir que bankingb outside the box. tournament. another Croatia has four wins from 12 At Euro 2020, Portugal will key player onon Spain’sSpain’s youth games in the last year as it struggles play in a difficult Group F that also for English to recapture the form from its run to includes Germany, France and champion Man movementmovemen the 2018 World Cup final. Hungary. Both Germany and City, are some of the players who Two other Euro 2020 teams were Hungary will have home games will be returning from the 2018 ThereThheere have been somes young held to 1-1 draws at home. Slovakia against Portugal in the group World Cup squad that was elim- fielded an experimental lineup for its stage. inated by Uruguay in the round pplplayerslaayyers who havehave surprised us. We draw with Bulgaria. First-time qual- “I have great confidence in my of 16. stillssttiill hhaveave tthehe potentialpote to grow a lot ifier North Macedonia was on course players and I have the conviction The defense again will be led more.mmorree. I ddon’ton’t knowknow what will for a win over Slovenia when Eljif that Portugal is a title candidate,” by 38-year-old Pepe, the most Elmas scored off Leeds left back Portugal coach Fernando Santos valuable player in the Euro 2016 happen,hhaappppen, yyetet I don’tdon deny that we are Ezgjan Alioski’s cross, but Slovenia said. final, when Portugal defeated host favoritesffaavoorites ((inin the ggroup), but not levelled deep into added time. The 36-year-old Ronaldo will France. becausebbeecac use ooff what wew have done, but be backed this time by the likes of Ronaldo will be playing in his INTERNATIONAL João Félix, Bernardo Silva, Bruno fifth straight European Champi- ratherrraathher for the acachievementsh of FRIENDLIES Fernandes, Rúben Dias and Diogo onship and will be looking to add thosetthoosse who came bbefore us. I am not RESULTS: Jota. yet another record to his name. afraidaaffrraaidd of this chachallenge.ll We have a Many of those players will be He is six goals from tying the all- Poland 1 - 1 Russia in position to thrive in large part time scoring record for a men’s youngyyoouung side,side, wwhichhich wants to grow, Croatia 1 - 1 Armenia because of the tournament’s post- national team. Ronaldo will attempt to become andaannd iss hungry. I don’tdo know how far North Macedonia 1 - 1 Slovenia ponement caused by the corona- The record of 109 goals is the all-time leading scorer with wewe wwillill go;go; ifif we wwill reach the final, virus pandemic. held by former Iran striker Ali Slovakia 1 - 1 Bulgaria a national team, but this time oror iiff wwee will onlonlyy mmake it to the Bosnia and Herzegovina Jota was a Wolverhampton Daei, the only other male soccer 0 - 0 Montenegro player who hadn’t played much player to surpass the 100-goal there will be a lot more to watch semis,sseemmis, or thethe quarters,quar or not even for his country last year but is milestone. Belarus 1 - 2 Azerbaijan for in Portugal’s squad. He will getget outoouut of the groupgro phase. But one now a regular for Liverpool and Ronaldo scored four goals in his national team, scoring six the 2018 World Cup and three at be playing in his fifth straight ththinghining I dodo kknownow iiss that we will be a TODAY'S FIXTURES: goals in 12 international games. Euro 2016. He played less than European Championship and toughtouugh rivarivall to playplay against that will Japan vs Jamaica Rúben Dias has improved after half an hour in the final against will be looking to add yet makemmaakee it uuncomfortablencomfor for our his first season at Manchester France five years ago because he Switzerland vs Liechtenstein another record to his name. He opponents.oppppoonents. Turkey vs Moldova City, while Fernandes has estab- got injured. Ukraine vs Northern Ireland lished himself as one of Man- The Juventus forward has is six goals from tying the SpainSppaiinin coach chester United’s top playmakers. scored for Portugal in every cal- all-time scoring record for a LuisLLuis EnriqueEnrique Belgium vs Greece João Félix earned an extra year endar year since his first interna- Algeria vs Mauritania of experience with an Atlético tional goal in 2004. men’s national team. French Ligue 1 Brazil names Rio among Copa America host venues REUTERS – BRASILIA planned host Argentina pulled out due to a dra- Brazil offered to host the tournament played to be reduced to matic worsening of the coronavirus pandemic by 10 South American nations in a surprise Brazil named Rio de Janeiro and three other cities there. decision taken jointly with CONMEBOL on as host venues for the Copa America on Tuesday The capital Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Cuiaba Monday, and is now racing against time to 18 teams from in a move that appeared to strengthen the like- and Goiania were confirmed as host cities by provide flights, transport, accommodation and lihood of the tournament taking place, even as Alejandro Dominguez, president of the South training facilities for the visiting delegations. a Supreme Court judge asked President Jair American Football Confederation The tournament is set to feature some of 2023-24 season Bolsonaro to explain his surprise decision. (CONMEBOL). the greatest names in world football, including The demand by Justice Ricardo Lewandowski Rio’s Maracana stadium and the Mane Gar- Argentines Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero, REUTERS – PARIS came in response to a suit filed by the opposition rincha stadium in Brasilia will be favourites to Neymar from Brazil, and Uruguayans Luis Workers’ Party, which objected to Brazil hosting host the opening match and the final. Suarez and Edinson Cavani. French top-tier Ligue 1 will be reduced from 20 the tournament given the current public health The decision to host football’s oldest inter- This year’s edition of the Copa America was teams to 18 from the 2023-24 season after the situation. national tournament comes as Brazil struggles held over from 2020 because of the pandemic general assembly of the French professional league Bolsonaro said earlier on Tuesday his gov- to cope with the ravages of a virus that has killed and was supposed to be the first to be held jointly (LFP) voted on the proposal, L’Equipe newspaper ernment had agreed Brazil would host the over 465,000 people, according to government by two nations but Colombia was removed as reported yesterday. regional tournament from June 13 to July 10, after figures, the second-highest tally in the world. co-host and then Argentina pulled out. France's Ligue 1 has had 18 teams in the past but was last expanded to 20 teams in the 2002-03 season. The current format has the bottom two clubs relegated while the 18th-placed side enters the rel- egation playoffs. The assembly reached a provisional agreement to reduce the number of sides, with four teams to be relegated from Ligue 1 in the 2022-23 season and two promoted from the second tier. A vote was taken on when to introduce the new rules, with a split vote of nine each for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, before LFP president Vincent Labrune proposed not making the switch until 2023-24. Among the top leagues in Europe, Germany’s Rio’s Maracana stadium (pictured) and the Mane Garrincha stadium in Bundesliga also has 18 top-flight teams with 34 Brasilia will be favourites to host the opening match and the final. rounds of matches instead of the standard 38. Sport THURSDAY 3 JUNE 2021 18 Conway’s ton gives Kiwis Verstappen leads Formula One ahead solid platform in first Test of Azerbaijan GP

REUTERS — LONDON New Zealand’s captain Alastair Cook’s record BAKU SCOREBOARD Devon Conway for most England caps, then REUTERS — Bottas in 2019. Daniel Ricciardo New Zealand debutant Devon celebrates got rid of Williamson in the won for Red Bull in 2017, Nico NEW ZEALAND, 1st innings (pictured) Conway crafted a century on after reaching first over after lunch -- the Max Verstappen will Rosberg for Mercedes in 2016, Tom Latham b Robinson ...... 23 the opening day of the first Test his century, seventh time he had dismissed start Sunday’s Azerbaijan and no driver has so far Devon Conway not out ...... 136 against England yesterday, with yesterday. him in Tests. Grand Prix as Formula One managed to win more than his unbeaten knock of 136 Kane Williamson b Anderson ...... 13 Williamson looked to world championship leader for once there. leading the visitors to 246-3 at Ross Taylor lbw b Robinson ...... 14 defend a rising delivery but the the first time but also with his The Monaco weekend, with stumps. Henry Nicholls not out ...... 46 ball spun back to hit the top of Red Bull under close technical Hamilton seventh and Bottas New Zealand won the toss Extras (b 6, lb 7, nb 1) ...... 14 off stump and he walked back scrutiny. retiring after a wheel could not and chose to bat but they lost TOTAL (86 Ov, 3 wkts) ...... 246 to the pavilion for 13. The race around the streets be removed in a pitstop, was opener Tom Latham in the first To bat: BJ Watling, Colin de Grand- Taylor (14) followed him of Baku is the last before the one to forget for Mercedes. session while skipper Kane Wil- homme, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamie- soon after when a Robinson sport’s governing body brings “We expect it (Baku) to be liamson and Ross Taylor fell son, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner delivery sneaked past his bat to in new rear-wing flexibility another tricky one for us, not cheaply after lunch as Conway Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-86, 3-114 rap him on the pads as England tests. particularly suiting the charac- took control. BOWLING: James Anderson 20-5- successfully appealed for leg Mercedes’s seven-times teristics and traits of the W12 Conway and Henry Nicholls before wicket. world champion Lewis Ham- (car),” said Wolff. 55-1, Stuart Broad 20-5-42-0, Ollie (46 not out) stitched together a England bowled better in ilton said last month that he “Red Bull will be strong Robinson 16-4-50-2, Mark Wood 18- patient 132-run partnership to the second session to keep the reckoned Red Bull were gaining again, while both Ferrari and steady the ship and set up a 6-49-0, Joe Root 12-1-37-0 run rate down but struggled for precious tenths of a second by McLaren have made great platform for their deep batting ENGLAND: Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, variety without a spinner in the using a “bendy wing on the progress recently.” lineup on day two. Zak Crawley, Joe Root, Ollie Pope, side, forcing captain Joe Root back of their car”. Ferrari had Charles Leclerc England went with four fast Dan Lawrence, James Bracey, Ollie to try his luck with 12 overs The Briton, now four points on pole in Monaco before his bowlers on a green wicket but, Robinson, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, which did not yield a behind the 23-year-old Dutch pre-race retirement and Carlos barring a few unsettling deliv- James Anderson breakthrough. driver, also said the advantage Sainz finished second, ahead eries, Conway saw off the early Lord’s welcomed back on Baku’s long straights could of McLaren’s Lando Norris. threat from James Anderson, spectators for the first time in be as much as six tenths. “I think that we’re not going Stuart Broad, Mark Wood and nearly two years but limited Hamilton’s team boss Toto to be the best ones on that long Ollie Robinson before slowly drew first blood to dismiss crash into the stumps. capacity to 25% due to the Wolff warned in Monaco, straight but at the same time, if growing into the game. Latham for 23 after the opening Anderson, playing his 161st ongoing COVID-19 where Verstappen won, that we can make the time back on England debutant Robinson batsman had an inside edge Test match to equal former pandemic. the delay in implementing the the tight part then we should tougher tests could trigger a be okay,” said Sainz. protest in Azerbaijan, the sea- “The one that now should son’s sixth race. be excited about Baku is my Verstappenpe has as yet to finish s friende d Lando a do Norris... o s... he e has as a India, NZ on equal terms for final: Kohli higher thann ffourthourth in BaBaku,ku, bitbit ooff a rocketrocket on thethe with no racece last yearyear due to straight.”straig ht.” REUTERS — LONDON India lost 2-0 to New Kohli told a news Kohli added that reaching COVID-19, bbutut that could all be VVerstap-erstap- Zealand in their two-Test conference. the final was a Testament to about to changehange as he chases pepen’sn ’ s India captain Virat Kohli said series last year -- their only “The conditions are as India’s recent progress in the his third winn ooff tthehe seasonseason.. team-mateteam-mate yesterdayy that India and New defeat in the WTC, which ppotent for New Zealand as format and held a lot of value “Baku’s a completelycompletely dif-dif- SergioS erg io Zealandaland wouldwould contestcontest thethe began in August 2019. ttheyhey are fforor uus.s Whichever for the team. ferent streetreet ccircuitircuit PerezPerez will aalsolso inauguralaugural World Test ChaCham-m- “We aarere oonn teamteam performs wellw session by “We take pride in playing where you run a lot bbee hopinhopingg to step pionshiponship (WTC)(WTC) final as equals, equalequal session, hhourour by hour, is going Test cricket,” he said. less downforcenforce up at a circuit wwherehere despitespite expectations thatthat termsterms,”,” toto win tthathat cchampionship.ham “The way we have pro- because off tthathat hehe ffinishedinished tthirdhird in playingaying conconditionsditions wouwouldld “In the past, we’ve gressed as a side is an example long straightight 20162016 aandnd 22018018 wiwithth ForceForce bettertter suit his opponents.opponents. landed threthreee days prior to of what Test cricket means to and the gripp India."India." TheThe llimitedimited preparation thethe scschedulehedul and had a us. levels alsoo timeme aavailablevailable ttoo InIndiadia befobeforere greatgreat tour. IIt’st not the first “As a unit, those of us who feel quitee thee ffinal,inal, whichwhich bbeginsegins on June time we’rewe touring have been part of the Test side low there,”” 18 atat the AgeasAgeas Bowl in SoutSouth-h- England.England. WeW all know for years, this is an accumu- said theh e ampton,mpton, wouldwould not impact whatwhat tthehe cconditions are lation of all our hard work. We Dutchman. thee team’s cchanceshances like.like. are very happy to take the “Normallyally we duee to ttheirheir ppre-re- “We don’td have any opportunity to play the finals.” should be quiteuite cocompet-mpet- viousous exexpe-pe- issues evene with just India will undergo 10 days itive, but let’st’s see.” Mer-Mer- rienceence of fourfour ppracticera sessions of quarantine on arrival in cedes have ttakenaken popolele anandd playingaying in aheadahead of the final. Southampton while New won three of fourfour racesraces to England,gland, WeWe all want to make Zealand are currently playing date in Baku,ku, witwithh HamiHamiltonlton Kohliohli Virat Kohli thethe mmost of the England at Lord’s in the first -- who has wowonn tthreehree ttimesimes so added.ded. opportunityopportu at hand.” of two Tests. far this yearar -- triumphanttriumphant in 2018 and team-mateeam-mate ValtteriValtteri