'Absolute joke': Cricket world explodes over Test final 'disgrace'
Cricket fans were left raging on Friday when the first day of the World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand was washed out without a ball being bowled.
After two years of qualifying and many more of planning, the showpiece event got off to a disastrous start as relentless rain hammered the Southampton Bowl.
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The morning session was quickly wiped out and while a small proportion of the limited 4000 crowd hung around in the hope of seeing some action as the day progressed, there was never any realistic hope of play.
The inevitable decision was made by umpires Michael Gough and Richard Illingworth at 2.48pm, with the players set to reconvene on Saturday morning.
While a standard Test match lasts a maximum of five days, this fixture can be extended into a sixth day should match referee Chris Broad decide that it is the only way to make-up time lost in the game to bad weather.
But Broad won't be called on to make such a decision until the fifth day, as the match could be over before then in any event.
Nevertheless, fans took aim at the ICC on Friday over the decision to host the showpiece event in England given the nature of their weather.
There was similar controversy at the 2019 World Cup in England when a record number of matches were abandoned without a ball being bowled.
It will be a big disgrace for @ICC rather cricket in general, if rain doesn't stop and the first #WTCFinal2021 trophy is shared. In this age of intelligence, you get the weather reports way early and the host venue must be decided on that basis. #INDvNZ #WorldTestChampionship
— Harshit Jain (@IamHarry09) June 18, 2021
@ICC what a disgrace you have been to cricket lovers, please understand, it isn't just a sport but a lot more than that to us.
Knowing the history of weather conditions in England and inspite of failure of previous tournaments during June/july you IDIOTS still chose Eng as venue— Anindya Kothari (@iam_AK44) June 18, 2021
@ICC do you have any shame in making England host the final after you know the weather in June ......complete disgrace to cricket if this final washes out....
— Madhavjha (@Madhavjha_) June 18, 2021
Such a worst decision by ICC..... big events like these shouldn't be held in England during summer....2013 CT final was affected by rain....the whole 2019 world cup was a dull event and this is the first WTC final.....ICC events and especially test cricket have become a joke
— prakash (@Indiafirst95) June 18, 2021
Great choice of venue @ICC for such a premiere event, what was supposed to be one of the greatest chapter in Test History will turn out to be a rain interrupted joke of a game, and such interupption is not for the first time for an icc event in England. #WTCFinal2021 #Joke
— Jaskaran Singh (@Singh9619) June 18, 2021
IMO having just one match final to decide the TEST champion is a shame. Only a 5 match series can do justice to this format of the game. Worst case a 3 match series but having just one is a big joke. #WTCFinal2021
— Kumar (@KumaReloaded) June 18, 2021
What a shit show from authorities if they can't even manage one ultimate test to go without the worry of rain
No major plans to shift the venue or keep other dates in mind
Absolute joke
Just take it out of England,if that's gonna be the case everytime#INDvNZ #WTCFinal2021— Okay (@Okaytep) June 18, 2021
Virat Kohli questions validity of Test Championship final
The one-off match, worth AU$2.14 million to the winners and $1.07m to the runners-up, represents the culmination of a two-year program of series to crown a champion team in men's Test cricket.
India and New Zealand topped the qualifying table, with Australia narrowly missing out on the final in third spot.
The trophy and prize-money will be shared in the result of a draw.
India captain Virat Kohli has already questioned whether a one-off game could decide the world's best Test side.
"If you're talking about Test cricket and deciding who is the best team in the world on one game over a period of five days, that is not the reality of the truth," he said on Thursday.
“It is not going to reflect anything for people who really understand the game and who know exactly what has gone on over the last four or five years and how the teams have fared.
“If you win this game, cricket does not stop for us. If you lose this game, cricket does not stop for us. Our processes and mindset is what matters most to us.
“For me, this is another Test match that has to be played.”
However Kohli did concede the new structure represented an advance for Test cricket at a time when many fear for its future.
“For me it has been a very positive step in the right direction. You know that every series you are playing and competing for something," he added.
“There is no room for complacency or just playing out an easy draw. If you can go for the points you go for the points. It is a step forward for Test cricket.”
India named their team on Thursday, with the pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami as well as spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja all included in the same Test XI for the first time.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, recovered from an elbow injury that saw him miss the Blackcaps' series-clinching win over England at Edgbaston last week, said he would delay announcing his side until the toss.
India too could yet change their side, as teams don't have to be confirmed until the toss takes place.
with agencies
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