Two full days of cricket have been lost at the World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand at the Rose Bowl in Southampton due to persistent rain and bad light. But now, finally, the weather gods seem to have mercy. Tuesday’s overhead conditions are likely to be bright enough for a full day’s play.
According to the local Met department, Southampton will experience a typical summer’s day. There will be some cloud in the morning, but that is likely to clear up for a sunny afternoon. BBC Weather predicts ‘low chance of precipitation’ throughout the playing hours. The temperature will hover around 15 degrees.
Thus, one can expect all 98 overs to be bowled today. Also, as the sun is due to come out in the afternoon, bad light is unlikely to come into play today.
When play was called off due to bad light on Day 3, New Zealand were 101/2 in the first innings in reply to India’s 217. Kane Williamson (12*) and Ross Taylor (0*) – their two most senior batters – were at the crease. When play resumes, they will try to build on the platform laid by Devon Conway (54) and Tom Latham (30).
The opening day of the WTC final was washed out without a ball being bowled. Day 2 saw 64.4 overs of play, and Day 3, 77.1. And now after the complete washout of Day 4, obtaining a result will be difficult despite a reserve day. Unless, of course, one side collapses dramatically.
Nevertheless, New Zealand will adapt a cautious approach right from the start of Day 5. They still trail by 116, a significant number in a low-scoring Test match. If they can bat around another 70-80 overs and get a lead of 50-60, their fast bowlers can put India under pressure in the second innings. The conditions, however, will be favourable for the batting side.
For India to extract something out of this game, the bowlers need to bowl out New Zealand inside the next 45-50 overs. That will put India in the position to force the issue. Weather predictions for Day 6 are good.
Around 180 overs (a maximum of 196) of play are still left in this Test match. A result cannot be ruled out.