However, the chances of such a decision being taken are next to negligible as the ICC, while announcing the playing conditions of the WTC final, had stated that the trophy will be shared in case the match ends in a draw or a tie. With only 141.1 overs possible in the final thus far and only two days remaining (weather permitting) we would be lucky if we even get close to 160 more overs and forcing a result in that time would be a difficult proposition according to Gavaskar.
Gavaskar stated that the ICC should come up with a way to choose a winner if the match ends in a draw. “There must be a formula to pick a winner in case of a drawn World Test Championship final. ICC’s cricket committee should think and then take a decision," quoted Gavaskar.
Former India opener and one of the greatest Test batsmen of all-time Sunil Gavaskar has implored the ICC to come up with a formula or methodology to pick the winner for the final of the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) should the match end in a draw. With two full days abandoned due to rain and bad weather in Southampton there is a strong likelihood of the mega final heading towards a stalemate unless something dramatic unfolds on Day 5 and the reserve day.
India were bowled out for 217, while New Zealand are 101 for 2 at the end of three days. The first session of the fourth day has been washed out. The entire day might be lost to rain as the forecast isn’t great. It leaves two full days, weather permitting, for the teams to try and get a result.
Former India cricketer VVS Laxman said the ICC did not get the rules right for the World Test Championship final, insisting they should have ensured a champion would emerge after the game. Laxman said the game now, between India and New Zealand, might not see a result despite there being a reserve day.
Even though a substantial amount of time has been lost in this match already, but if we do manage to get two full days of play, all three results are still possible in the match. If India can restrict Kiwis to 200, and then bat till lunch tomorrow, a win could come India's way. But for that India will have to give their 100%, and hope for the same from the weather gods.
Hello and welcome to our live blog of Day 5 of the India vs New Zealand World Test Championship final. Marred with rain stoppages and washouts, we are nowhere near to finding the inaugural winner of the WTC. Yet, let's not lose hope. Still, two days to go and we might get some play today and tomorrow. Stay tuned for more updates.
India vs New Zealand, WTC Final 2021, IND vs NZ Live Score and Latest Updates: India must be hoping for a great day today, where they bundle out the opposition cheaply and bat well again. As per prediction, there would be no rain today.
New Zealand was somewhat comfortably placed at 101-2 after fast bowler Kyle Jamiesen’s 5-31 dismissed India for 217 in the first innings on the third day of the rain-affected inaugural WTC final. The first day was completely washed out while only 64.4 overs could be bowled on the second day. India’s middle order was rattled by an all-out New Zealand pace attack on Sunday before Devon Conway (54) and Tom Latham (30) provided a solid opening stand of 70 runs. There is the provision of a reserve day and there’s a much better forecast over the remaining two days. If the outcome is a draw, the trophy will be shared. Given a standard men’s Test lasts a maximum of five days, this match would usually be destined for a draw. The provision of a reserve day on Wednesday, however, offers the hope that one team will be able to claim a winners’ cheque worth $1.6 million, with the runners-up receiving $800,000.
But that is still no guarantee a two-year process to crown Test cricket’s first official world champion will end with an outright winner. The International Cricket Council confirmed Monday the final would be extended into Wednesday if the match had not been completed by close of play on Tuesday’s fifth day. But the global governing body stressed the aim of using the reserve day was to do with making up the overs lost in the game, rather than trying to force a result The ICC added a decision would be taken by the match officials 60 minutes before the scheduled close of play on day five. Tickets have now gone on sale to spectators who had paid to attend the washed-out first and fourth days, with fans who missed out in the initial ballot able to buy tickets from Tuesday.
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| Rank | Team | Points | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | 6088 | 277 |
| 2 | India | 6811 | 272 |
| 3 | New Zealand | 6048 | 263 |
| 4 | Pakistan | 7818 | 261 |
| 5 | Australia | 5930 | 258 |
| FULL Ranking | |||
