The ICC World Test Championship final will see no further rain interruptions on day 5 and on the reserve day in Southampton between India and New Zealand.
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The ICC World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand has been impacted by rain. After the first day was washed out, day 4 followed a similar pattern. Not a ball was bowled as persistent rain ensured no action took place. However, the weather on day 5 and on the reserve day is significantly better. According to the weather report in Southampton, the fifth day will be cloudy and there are minimal chances of rain.
There will be intermittent spells of rain that might halt action for the fifth day. The sky will remain cloudy, which might bring bad light into the equation. The reserve day on Wednesday will see sunny spells and one hopes to see full action.
According to various media reports, the ICC might make an announcement on the reserve day by the second session of the fifth day. As per the World Test Championship Final playing conditions announced by the ICC, a draw or a tie will see both teams crowned as joint winners as well as the allocation of a Reserve Day to make up for any lost time during the regular days of the Final.
The Reserve Day has been scheduled to ensure five full days of play. It will be used only if lost playing time cannot be recovered through the normal provisions of making up lost time each day. There will be no additional day’s play if a positive result is not achieved after five full days of play and the match will be declared a draw in such a scenario.
The final sentences are important to understand whether a reserve day will be possible. For the sake of the fans and the broadcasting market in India and sponsorships, the ICC will bend over backwards to ensure that a result is possible.
According to the ICC statement, a minimum of 83 overs will be bowled on the reserve day. But, looking at the weather on the fifth day, it might make little sense to use the reserve day. The cloud cover around Southampton will see bad light come into the picture and more time will be lost. The scoring rate in both the innings has been sluggish, with just over two runs per over being scored.
India managed to reach 217, with Ajinkya Rahane top-scoring with 49. Virat Kohli’s century drought continued as he managed just 44. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill stitched a solid opening partnership but New Zealand bounced back in style. Kyle Jamieson was the star with his fifth five-wicket haul as he took 5/31. This was his second five-wicket haul against India, having taken one at Christchurch in February 2020.
In response, Devon Conway smashed a fifty to continue his impressive run in Test cricket. He was given good support by Tom Latham. Kane Williamson hung in after Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin removed the openers. New Zealand reached 101/2 after the end of the third day but bad light and rain has stopped play since then.
