WTC Final: Match officials to take a call on Reserve Day on Day 5

19 Jun, 2021

Editor

19 Jun, 2021 By Editor

The wait for the much-anticipated clash between India and New Zealand got a little longer after Incessant rains spoiled the first day, not allowing single ball being bowled. To make up for the lost playing time, the second day of the WTC final will begin half an hour earlier.

With the opening day getting washed out due to rain, the ICC's playing conditions mandate suggests that the reserve day option may well be considered. It officially came into effect half an hour into the second session (6:40 PM IST). The two and half hours of play will be recovered in the next five days with 30 minutes of an early start on each day. After several ground inspections, the two umpires - Michael Gough and Richard Illingworth - called off the game at 7:30 pm IST.

"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 stated in its playing conditions guidelines for World Test Championship Final.

Overs lost during the first five days of play will be carried over to the reserve day. However, the primary goal will be to complete the match in five days by appending extra overs to the day if the weather conditions permit.

As per the ICC statement, the match referee will make the final decision on whether or not to use the reserve day on the fifth day of play. The weather forecast for the next four days isn't promising, signalling that the game will most likely go to the reserve day.

“In the event of time being lost during the match, the ICC match referee will regularly update the teams and media about how the reserve day may be used. The final decision on whether the reserve day needs to be used will be announced at the scheduled start of the last hour on the fifth day,” an ICC statement said.

If the result is not achieved even after the reserve day, India and New Zealand will be declared joint winners of the inaugural World Test Championship.