The International Cricket Council (ICC) has added a reserve day (June 23) for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship final in Southampton. India and New Zealand will lock horns in the title clash clash starting June 18 at the Ageas Bowl.
Considering how England weather plays a spoilsport during this time of the year, many have welcomed the move. While six-day Test matches were a thing in the past, the Southampton encounter might go beyond the stipulated five days.
World Test Championship final in Southampton to have a reserve day
The reserve day in the World Test Championship final will only be used to “ensure five full days of play”. In simple words, it will only be used if lost overs (due to any reason) won’t be completed in the first five days. The reserve day (at maximum) would comprise of 330 minutes or 83 overs before the last actual hour. Otherwise, only the amount of overs lost will be bowled on the reserve day.
Boys 🤩♥️@ImRo45 💙@cheteshwar1 @ajinkyarahane88 #INDvNZ #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/FIUzdAZEFf
— @rohit_.sharma_💙❣️ (@ImRo45_264) June 21, 2021
“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. 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.
“In the event of time being lost during the match, the ICC match referee will regularly update the teams and media about the way in which 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,” ICC said in a statement published on their website.
What time does play start?
The scheduled start time for the Reserve Day is 10:30 am BST at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton.
Lunch will be taken at 12:30 and Tea at 15:25 BST.
Day four of the #WTC21 Final has been abandoned due to persistent rain ⛈️#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/QvKvzQCphG
— ICC (@ICC) June 21, 2021
How many overs will be bowled on reserve day?
The Reserve Day is in place to make up for any lost time in the original five days of the match.
A maximum of 98 overs – 83 overs plus the last hour (a minimum of 15 overs) – are available. The umpires will signal the start of the last hour.
How long can play go reserve day?
The maximum duration for the Reserve Day is a minimum of 330 minutes (or 83 overs, whichever is later), plus the last hour.
If play is suspended for any reason other than normal intervals prior to the start of the final hour, then playing time shall be extended by the total time lost, up to the amount of extra time available.
What happens if there’s no winner?
If the match ends in a draw, or a tie, after the total designated time on the Reserve Day then the teams will be declared joint winners of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2021.
If both captains agree, then the match can also end as a draw by shaking hands at any time inside the last hour of the Reserve Day.
