Rain played spoilsport on the opening day of the first ever ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, the most high-valued fixture of Test cricket’s very own World Cup. However, in all likelihood, India and New Zealand can start their quest to become the official world champions in Test cricket on 19 June: weather predictions for the day are pretty encouraging.
As per the local met department and BBC Weather, chances of precipitation in Southampton on Saturday are less compared to yesterday. The sky will remain cloudy throughout the playing hours, and it is unlikely to rain in the first half.
However, we may see a few drops here and there as the day progresses. The temperature is expected to hover around 17 degrees, and the humidity will be around 70 percent.
In order to accommodate the extra overs, the game is expected to start half an hour earlier than the scheduled time of 11 AM (BST). Toss will take place at 10 AM local time. Overall 98 overs are to be bowled in the day and considering the weather predictions, we can expect a full day’s play.
ICC has already announced a reserve day for the Test match. However, the weekend weather predictions are not very encouraging. The Test match may not get enough overs to yield a result even it goes to Day 6. In such a scenario, Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson may have to share the inaugural ICC WTC trophy.
Meanwhile, going into this game, both captains have made it clear that they will only focus on the aspects under their control. And weather does not fall into that category.
Teams
India had announced their XI on the eve of the Test match. However, considering the wet conditions at the Ageas Bowl, they may reconsider the decision of playing two spinners. They can decide until the team sheets are exchanged.
Hence, Kohli and Co. can very well drop one of their spinners and play an extra seamer – Mohammed Siraj.
However, whether the Indian think-tank will upset their previously decided XI or not is another question.
India have picked both R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in conditions that will primarily favour seam. However, the values of those two in this Indian setup is enormous, and their presence in the lower middle-order provide much-needed batting depth to this line-up.
A four-man pace attack consisting of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Siraj will result in a very long tail.
New Zealand’s only dilemma hovers around Ajaz Patel. If they decide to back their strength and go ahead with four specialist seamers, Patel will have to sit out. But Indians have struggled against finger-spinners at the Ageas Bowl…
Head to head
India have won 21 of the 59 Test matches and lost 12.
Likely XIs
India (announced): Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner
Predictions
New Zealand to have the upper hand for the major part of this Test match but we won’t be able to get a result due to the weather conditions.