WTC Finals Live – IND vs NZ LIVE Updates & Weather Forecast in Southampton for Day 2: In a setback for the cricket fans all around the world, the Opening Day of the ICC World Test Championship Final between India and New Zealand was called off due to heavy rain and wet outfield – without even a toss and ball being bowled. Will the Southampton weather allow the Day 2 to start on time? Will India change its playing XI – Follow all LIVE Updates on InsideSport.co
The good thing is we have an extra day but the bad news is the forecast for today isn’t looking promising either – check below
WTC Finals Live – IND vs NZ LIVE Updates & Weather Forecast in Southampton for Day 2 – Follow LIVE Updates:
First thing First – Weather Forecast in Southampton?
Day 2 (Saturday) 8 AM IST: As we write this at 8 AM IST, bad news is – it’s still drizzling in Southampton. The weather forecast throughout the day is mostly sunny with intermittent cloud. 40% chances of light rain from 4 PM – hopefully we will see some action on Day 2.
So here’s the forecast for the day in Southampton
WTC Finals Live – IND vs NZ LIVE Updates – Will the RESERVE Day Kick in?
“The Reserve Day has been scheduled to ensure five full days of play, and it will only be used if lost playing time cannot be recovered through the normal provisions of making up lost time each day,” ICC had said in a release while announcing the playing conditions for the WTC final.
But if that means that the WTC final without a clear winner, then both teams will lift the trophy. “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 ICC release on the playing conditions read.
WTC Finals Live – IND vs NZ LIVE Updates – Can India change their playing XI?
India had announced their playing XI. As most had expected, India went in with two spinner — R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, while three pacers — Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami were included in the playing XI. But as per the ICC, Team India can still change their playing XI since the toss hasn’t taken place as yet.
As per the ICC rule 1.2.1 of the playing conditions of WTC final, “Each captain shall nominate 11 players plus a maximum of 4 substitute fielders in writing on the team sheet provided by ICC. Other than as set out in clauses 1.2.7 and 1.2.8, no player (member of the playing eleven) may be changed after the nomination without the consent of the opposing captain. Immediately prior to the toss, the ICC Match Referee or his nominee shall check with both team captains that the players nominated on the team sheets are correct.
WTC Finals Live Updates – DAY 1
7:30 PM IST – Play Called off by the umpires.
“Unfortunately, play on Day 1 has been called off due to rains. 10.30 AM local time start tomorrow,” BCCI said on Twitter.
UPDATE – Unfortunately, play on Day 1 has been called off due to rains. 10.30 AM local time start tomorrow.#WTC21
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 18, 2021
6.40 PM IST: The conditions are holding at the moment. It hasn’t rained for the last 45 minutes. There will be an inspection at 7.30PM IST and a decision will be made on Day 1 after that.
UPDATE – It has stopped raining and there will be an inspection at 3 PM local and 7.30 PM IST. #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/VzzuXxGPrF
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 18, 2021
6:30 PM IST: It has stopped raining and hasn’t poured in the last half an hour. While it is a good sign, the outfield is still wet and will take another hour to get it ready.
6:05 PM IST: It has stopped raining for the time being but conditions are heavily overcast and a toss is still a long way off.
5:32 PM: BCCI has the latest update and there is no good news yet. While the rain stopped for a moment, it started pouring down heavily once again. Currently, the outfield resembles a lake and will take up to 60-90 minutes to get the ground ready, provided it doesn’t rain again.
The wait continues 🌧️ #WTC21 Final pic.twitter.com/kNJofd2RfK
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 18, 2021
4:43 PM: It’s almost lunchtime and 1st session is coming to a close but there is no sign of rain stopping.
Okay.. it got a bit slow but then pouring down again. Slyly eyeing the Indian street food truck here. But how do I get to it? Cannot kuruvi also😭 #biobubblewoes pic.twitter.com/GNSxLaCrWB
— Wear a mask. Take your vaccine. (@prithinarayanan) June 18, 2021
4:00 PM: Things don’t look good. It’s pouring heavily in Southampton. Day 1 looks difficult. Get ready for 2nd session to be called off.
With the Match Officials confirming there will be no play before lunch at the Hampshire Bowl as rain continues to fall the wait continues in Southampton #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/VYXtF79sEq
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 18, 2021
3:40 PM IST: Rain continues to pour in. Day 1 looks difficult.
To all those in India googling about weather, it’s still windy and pouring in here.
Rain Gods are not in mood to miss the first day!#WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/1c3befwAPT— DK (@DineshKarthik) June 18, 2021
WTC Finals Live Updates: 3:15 PM: Unfortunately, the rain is back again and Super Soppers are heading back.
Wet. Getting wetter. #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/qePYgkw0x8
— Rob Johnston (@RobJ_Cricket) June 18, 2021
2:55 PM IST: It has stopped raining in Southampton. But outfield is wet and groundsmen will need at least an hour to get the ground ready for the match. If it does not rain again, 2nd session likely to start on time, around 5.45 PM.
Umpires and match referee will assess the conditions and take a call on the toss if things improve in the next few hours. As it stands, the covers are on at the Ageas Bowl pitch and the drizzles have come back.
WTC Finals Live Updates: Rain, rain go away, come again another day — Virat Kohli and his men besides Kane Williamson-led Kiwis had been rhyming this since morning as India and New Zealand cricketers besides fans anxiously waited for Southampton weather to clear up. But persistent drizzles and wet outfield forced the day to be called off. Ravindra Jadeja’s social media update said it rained cats and dogs last night in Southampton. The situation did not change much and the Ageas Bowl pitch has been under the covers the whole time.
Update: Unfortunately there will be no play in the first session on Day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship final. #WTC21
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 18, 2021
Good morning from Southampton. We are just over an hour away from the scheduled start of play but It continues to drizzle here. The match officials are on the field now. ☔ #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/Kl77pJIJLo
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 18, 2021
Dinesh Karthik on commentary duty with Sky Sports said the situation is not looking good for a timely start. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ritika Sajdeh (Rohit Sharma’s wife) all posted updates on Instagram and were optimistic about a start.
Ind vs NZ LIVE Updates: It’s still raining in Southampton – entire day WEATHER FORECAST by MET Department is listed below
As per the latest update (1.15 PM IST), the rain has stopped and the weather is improving.
I am in Southampton and rain has stopped muffa @mufaddal_vohra pic.twitter.com/kd8iRhZg4E
— Rohit Yadav (@RohitYa95538107) June 18, 2021
Rain to start in Southampton means coffee and a chat watching the covers to start the day. #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/dLhbAd5C4l
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 18, 2021
WTC Finals Live: Friday, Southampton chances of rain – Acc. to UK Met department
| Time | 10:00am | 12:00pm | 02:00pm | 05:00pm |
| Chances of rain | 80% | 90% | 90% | 80% |
#WTC21
Rain in Southampton 😂
Hope toss will happen ( virat will lose it )😂@imjadeja insta 📸 pic.twitter.com/O6f8h208gp— 丂卂ㄒ卄ㄚ卂 (சத்யா) (@itsSaTy) June 17, 2021
The rain has arrived in Southampton for the World Test Championship final. From what I’ve seen, the forecast for the next few days has actually improved (slightly) #NZvsIND #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/1ZYMWcgSMG
— Matthew Henry (@MattyHenry19) June 17, 2021
WTC Finals Live – IND vs NZ LIVE Updates: Going by Ravindra Jadeja’s Instagram story, the situation needs to change drastically for a chance to start the match on time. The game will start at 3 PM IST. However, the weather forecast for Southampton doesn’t offer any confidence. The MET department of the UK has given a yellow alert for a thunderstorm on Friday while intermittent rain will continue throughout the next five days.
ICC WTC Finals Live – India vs New Zealand Final: Former England spinner Monty Panesar posted a weather forecast for Southampton on Monday that shows a 70-80% chance of rain during those days including the reserve day on June 23.
WTC Finals Live – India vs New Zealand Final: What about reserve day?
WTC Finals Live – IND vs NZ LIVE Updates: So, if the start of Day 1 of the ICC WTC Final is delayed, the reserve day will come into the picture, right? Yes, it will. But there are certain conditions to it. The reserve day is aimed at making up the lost hours of the five days. But the reserve day can only have six hours, meaning some time will definitely be lost if the sun doesn’t shine.
“As I understand it, only time lost due to rain or bad light (beyond the extra hour allowed each day or the half hour at the start of the next day) will be made up on the reserve day. If time lost, say on day 1, is made up under normal provisions, the 6th day won’t be used,” Harsha Bhogle tweeted.
As I understand it, only time lost due to rain or bad light (beyond the extra hour allowed each day or the half hour at the start of the next day) will be made up on the reserve day. If time lost, say on day 1, is made up under normal provisions, the 6th day won’t be used (1/3)
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 18, 2021
WTC Finals Live – IND vs NZ LIVE Updates: “So effectively, only if the time lost is greater than the time that can be made up like in a normal 5 day game, will the reserve day be used. So if the 1st day, for eg, is lost, you make up as much of that on subsequent days and only play the balance on the reserve day,” he added.
So effectively, only if the time lost is greater than the time that can be made up like in a normal 5 day game, will the reserve day be used. So if the 1st day, for eg, is lost, you make up as much of that on subsequent days and only play the balance on the reserve day
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 18, 2021