ICC WTC Final: Day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship final called off due to rain

ICC WTC Final: Day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship final called off due to rain.

ICC WTC Final: The much anticipated final of the ICC World Test Championship has been hit by a rain roadblock even before the toss could take place. The constant showers in the Ageas Bowl, Southampton since Thursday prompted the match officials to call off the play on Day1.

The rain stopped around 5:30 PM IST but the match officials following the inspections of the pitch and ground decided to call for the stumps without having a toss.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) immediately stated that the reserve day, which is on June 23, will come into play so as to make up for the lost time on Day1. 

The global body also said that the game will begin half an hour early in the next four days from the scheduled time to make up for two and half hours of play lost during day 1. A total of 98 overs will be bowled from tomorrow.

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"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 said in a release while announcing the playing conditions for the WTC final.

The global body also said that if no positive result is achieved on the scheduled days, the title will be shared between the teams and the prize money will also be distributed. 

?There will be no additional day's play if a positive result is not achieved after five full days of play and the match will be declared a draw in such a scenario," the ICC release on the playing conditions read.

Tomorrow the final will begin at 3:00 PM Indian Standard Time, the second session will begin at 5:40 PM while the third session will begin at 8 PM onwards (IST).

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