Xtra Time Web Desk: The weather forecast for Day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand threatens to be a wash out. Spells of heavy showers are likely to interrupt play regularly, particularly on day one with a thunderstorm warning. Long spells of rain have also been forecast for days three and four.
If the match is unable to be completed in the usual five days, a sixth day has been set aside by ICC to help make up for time lost to bad weather. However, that still may not be enough to assure a win for either side if close to two days are lost to bad weather.
The Met Office forecast for Friday for Southampton predicted “a band of heavy and thundery rain” after midnight , leading to “a cloudy day with long periods of locally heavy and thundery rain”.
The “drier and brighter spells developing during the evening” will likely come too late to salvage much play.
Day two looks more promising initially, but showers are forecast for late in the day while thundery showers and long spells of rain are set to be back on days three and four.
If the test is drawn, both sides will share the trophy and title of world test cricket champions.