As cricket fans waited anxiously at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, not even the toss had taken place by lunchtime on the opening day of the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand. The toss, scheduled for 10:00 a.m. local time (09:00 GMT), was delayed due to persistent overnight and early-morning rain. With the pitch and square fully covered, ground staff faced the arduous task of clearing surface water from the outfield before play could even be considered.
The weather disruption naturally raised a pressing question among followers of the longest format of the game: what happens if the World Test Championship final ends in a draw or a tie?
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Joint Winners in Case of No Result
According to the official playing conditions set by the International Cricket Council (ICC), if the WTC final concludes in a draw or a tie, both teams will be declared joint winners of the championship. While this outcome is procedurally sound, it may feel underwhelming to supporters who have followed a fiercely competitive two-year cycle of Test series in the hope of seeing a single, undisputed champion crowned.
The Role of the Reserve Day
To reduce the likelihood of such an anticlimactic ending, the ICC has included a reserve day—June 23—for the WTC final. This additional day is not automatic and comes into play only if there is a significant loss of playing time during the scheduled five days of the match.
A standard Test match is expected to deliver 30 hours of net playing time, calculated as six hours per day across five days. Match referee Chris Broad is empowered to invoke the reserve day only if he determines that the lost time cannot be adequately recovered through normal scheduling adjustments.
Time-Making Provisions Before the Reserve Day
Before resorting to the reserve day, officials may attempt to recoup lost time using standard Test match provisions. These include:
Extending play by up to 30 minutes at the end of a day
Starting the following day up to 30 minutes earlier
The reserve day will be utilised only if these measures fail to restore sufficient playing time or if the match remains undecided at the end of the fifth day.
Possible Outcomes at a Glance
| Scenario | Result |
|---|---|
| Match completed with a winner | Winning team crowned WTC champions |
| Draw or tie after all playing time | Both teams declared joint winners |
| Time lost due to weather | Reserve day may be used |
| Time recovered through extensions | Reserve day not activated |
An Unprecedented Finale
As the first-ever World Test Championship final, this match carries immense symbolic importance for Test cricket. While joint champions may not be the most thrilling conclusion, it reflects the realities of the longest and most weather-dependent format of the game.
Ultimately, the reserve day exists to give the contest every possible chance of reaching a decisive outcome—but if nature has the final say, history will record two champions of the inaugural WTC.