07:30PM: It's been a dampener to start with. Relentless rains have marred the occasion on the first day, but we've still got five days ahead of us with the reserve day coming into effect. In all anticipation of a fine day, we'll meet up soon tomorrow. Until then, good night!
Shayan Acharya, Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya and Ayan Acharya discuss their star players and big match-ups in the #WTCFinal.
Scheduled sessions of play on day 2:
07:18PM: The dreaded moment is here. Play has been officially called off on day one.
07:05PM: Visuals show that slight drizzles have returned to the Bowl. 25 minutes left to the inspection.
06:55PM: The ICC confirms that the reserve day has come into effect. The WTC final will extend to June 23.
06:30PM: We have another inspection in an hour's time. The umpires have had their walk around the field. The umbrellas were down and prodding through the field, some hope there. The day's play could well be decided either way during the 7:30pm update.
06:15PM: Forecasts predict the return of a downpour in about 30 minutes time. But, let's just hope there's a detour up above. At the moment, visuals suggest it is drying up swiftly at the venue.
06:02PM: Brief spell of hope here! There has been no rain for about 30 minutes now and the covers remain on at the centre. The Super-soppers continue to do their job and the massive pelting has just made life difficult for the groundsmen. Few Kiwi players are out on the field and having some fun over the puddles.
5:49 PM: Rain relents in Southampton. Covers coming off. There's that merest sliver of hope. However, the outfield has taken a beating. We are nowhere near having a toss, let alone a start.
FOLLOW LIVE: LIVE SOUTHAMPTON WEATHER UPDATES
05:35PM: Just another validation of the situation. Things haven't eased out just yet
05:16PM: Meanwhile in Bristol, the Indian women have been forced to follow-on after bowling out at 231.
05:05PM:
Right, the forecast shows a 50 per cent chance of rain which the skies have capitalised on. However, there is a short window over the next two hours with chances of rain falling to 10 per cent.
05:00PM: The previous update was agonisingly short-lived. Rains have returned and it's pelting down once again at the Ageas Bowl.
04:50PM: UPDATE: Rain has stopped at Southampton!
But.... hold your horses just yet. The outfield is apparently in a massive pool and it would take some time before we could make way for the Toss and the game itself.
04:31PM: A good 30 minutes away from a fresh update. Meanwhile, you can catch the Indian women in Whites in action at Bristol here:
04:26PM:
The broadcasters have confirmed that a next update from the venue is scheduled at 5:30PM (IST). Is there a glimmer of hope for a start?
04:00PM: Ominious signs persist at Southampton. Nasser Hussain added that it's still soaking wet on the outfield at the Hampshire Bowl and the forecast for the rest of the day does not look good either. It's a quick drying surface but the rain continues to pour down and even the super-soppers have had their fill.
03:44PM: TOP PERFORMERS IN WTC
India
New Zealand
03:20PM: ROAD TO THE FINAL
India
India’s World Test Championship cycle involved three overseas tours (the West Indies, New Zealand and Australia) and three series at home against South Africa, Bangladesh and England. Interestingly, India’s only series loss came on its tour to New Zealand.
New Zealand
Kane Williamson’s men played five series in the World Test Championship and got off to a low start in their away tours to Sri Lanka and Australia. The Kiwis bounced at home with successive wins over India, the West Indies and Pakistan.
03:00PM: India - New Zealand: Key Numbers
Sigh. Under a warmer sky, the inaugural WTC final would have geared up for the crucial Toss at this moment. But as the rain continues to delay the start and the players have been restrained to the dressing-room, let's have another look at the key numbers ahead of the clash.
02:15PM: UPDATE - The toss has been delayed and there will be no play in the opening session on day one
02:00PM: Match officials are on the field for an inspection as a drizzle continues to hover over Hampshire Bowl at the moment.
01:30PM: No positive signs yet, but let's carry on with our prep work with some early sighters and numbers from the India-New Zealand clashes over the years.
01:15PM:
It's around 8:15am in Southampton and the weather forecast at the moment cites 90 per cent chances of rain. Sad enough, that's going to stay very much the same through the day.
Friday, Southampton chances of rain
1:08PM:
Not the scenes you'd want to see in terms of build-up to the final....
Match Preview
THIS IS IT. The rejuvenation project of Test cricket will close its first chapter this week with two deserved nations slogging it out in the finale at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton.
The world's top ranked Test teams, No.1 New Zealand and No.2 India, will be all set to give it their all in a bid to etch their names in history while clocking a befitting finish to a journey over the last decade.
Team India's journey under Virat Kohli since late 2014 will bear its ultimate fear if they cross the finishing line after losing out on several ICC tournaments over the course of eight years in agonising demeanour. And the feeling will be strongly shared by the opposition camp as Williamson's New Zealand - tagged the eternal underdog - have fought out of its skin to emerge as a world beater.
Both sides have carved out a pool of fast-bowlers that can spit fire under favourable conditions at the Hampshire Bowl. India, having taken the step to announce its XI a day ahead of the match, is fielding all five of its premier bowlers - Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah set to crank up the pace while Ashwin and Jadeja providing extra cover. It's a point of interest that the five will be playing together for the first time in a Test for India.
The Kiwis have kept the voices down on their combination for the game, but the pacers in the mix are sure to give some serious heat for the Indian batsmen. Tim Southee and Trent Boult lead the pack while a warrior in Neil Wagner could pose a serious challenge. Throw in the near seven-footed monster Kyle Jamieson and there is a whole new set of problems for the Indian top-order.
The final could, however, lose its sheen given the prevailing conditions in a frosty Southampton. With rain forecast on all five days, the summit clash could most likely witness reduced action. Could a reserve provide foil? We will get to know more as the skies and the day unfold.
WHAT THEY SAID
Squads:
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah
New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling (wk), Will Young.
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