World Test Championship final, India vs New Zealand as it happened: Day one washed out
Updates from day one of the World Test Championship Final.
WTC final: Kohli’s India, Williamson’s New Zealand face-off in a final searching for context
BCCI update: Toss delayed, no play possible in first session
So, as many were afraid, no play possible in Southampton on day one. Head over to the live blog of the match in Bristol.
the rain in southampton is just a clever plan to ensure everyone is able to focus on watching shafali verma bat #ENGWvINDW #WTCFinal #INDvNZ
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) June 18, 2021
OFFICIAL: Play called off on day one. That was all very... damp. 10.30 AM local time start tomorrow, confirm BCCI.
Due to persistent rain, play has been abandoned on day one of the #WTC21 Final in Southampton ⛈️#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/Vzi8hdUBz8
— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2021
6.39 pm: Official update.
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
Rain has stopped. Fans are happy. I can hear the dol and happy singing. And @ashwinravi99 is going to do what he needs to do - have lunch. pic.twitter.com/7Ft0YnsPXL
— Wear a mask. Take your vaccine. (@prithinarayanan) June 18, 2021
It's still raining at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton as we await the start of play ⛈️#WTC21 Final | #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/CTSezyi4VZ
— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2021
4.55 pm: And the rain is back again. Sigh.
It's absolutely hammering it down again in Southampton. My earlier optimism (from about 10 mins ago) has now vanished #WTCFinal
— Chris Stocks (@StocksC_cricket) June 18, 2021
4.47 pm: News coming in that it has finally stopped raining at Southampton. We are still a fair bit away from the start of play though.
English weather testing cricket fans’ patience since forever. #IndvNZ #WTCFinal2021 pic.twitter.com/6E8G9oIw2K
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) June 18, 2021
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
4.12 pm: “Even the Super Sopper has had enough of this,” reckons Nasser Hussain. The rain is coming down pretty hard again.
.@DineshKarthik #WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/XdTkvyeOmt
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) June 18, 2021
How to make cricket waterproof? Discuss.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) June 18, 2021
1. Plastic bat and ball.
2. Pitch made from sponge.
3. Play only in Narendra Modi stadium - Dry State.
4. ???#WTCFinal2021
3.38 pm: According to latest visuals, it is still raining at Southampton. The news isn’t good.
Current situation at Southampton. #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/kEft1K8xla
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 18, 2021
The hardware both teams are desperate to get their hands on 🤤
— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2021
But who will be lifting this at the end of the #WTC21 Final? 🔮#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/j8a4chXAoZ
02.49 pm: We are in England and we are talking about the weather. The forecast for the rest of the week doesn’t look too good as well.
02.35 pm: We are not likely to get any cricket anytime soon. Nasser Hussain tells us on Star Sports the sixth day is going to be used, and it is miserable right now. “Proper rain even by England’s standards,” he adds but it is a good drying ground. Read up on the preview here:
WTC final: Kohli’s India, Williamson’s New Zealand face-off in a final searching for context
Update from Southampton 🌧️
— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2021
The toss has been delayed and there will be no play in the opening session. #WTC21 Final | #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/9IAnIc56jQ
02.30 pm: On the flip side, the rain jokes have already started on Twitter.
Rain on the finals of the World Test Championship seems entirely in keeping with the order of things.
— Sidin (@sidin) June 18, 2021
After Day 1 https://t.co/BHspLSkhf9 pic.twitter.com/60JGdMUgYA
— Manya (@CSKian716) June 18, 2021
Both teams should be made to play Takeshi's Castle in the meanwhile.
— Mr. Chocolate Hazelnut Spread (@basedIITian) June 18, 2021
Based on the points earned in the league phase, India should be declared the raining champions, and that's it. #WTCFinal2021
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) June 18, 2021
02.20 pm: The very first update from Southampton is not a good one.
BCCI: “Unfortunately there will be no play in the first session on Day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship final”
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
02.15 pm: Hello all and welcome to the live coverage of the ICC World Test Championship Final. For the first time in the game’s oldest, longest format, there will be an official World Champion(s) crowned at the end of the next five (six) days. But, as we all worried, rain is set to play a major role at the very least on day one.
A two-year process designed to crown a Test champion and give fresh impetus to the oldest international format culminates in a five-day match starting in Southampton on Friday that is worth $1.6 million to the winning team.
New Zealand and India are the top two teams in the Test rankings but Kohli said on Thursday that a one-off game would not give a definitive answer as to who was the best.
“If you’re talking about Test cricket and deciding who is the best team in the world on one game over a period of five days, that is not the reality of the truth,” he said.
“It is not going to reflect anything for people who really understand the game and who know exactly what has gone on over the last four or five years and how the teams have fared.”