Explained: ICC World Test Championship Final Playing Conditions

The inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship final is just a few days away from taking place and India and New Zealand will be locking horns in an exciting contest. New Zealand will be riding on high confidence after their first test series win in England yesterday since 1999.

The match is set to be played from June 18 to June 22 and the two teams have worked really hard for a long time of two years to get into the finals. The playing conditions were slightly revised for the World Test Championship finals by the ICC recently and here are the playing conditions of World Test Championship finals 2021.

Explained: ICC World Test Championship Final Playing Conditions

Trophy To Be Shared In Case Of A Draw Or A Tie:

The ICC World Test Championship trophy will be shared between India and New Zealand in case of a draw or tie. Both teams will be declared as joint winners and it might be the best possible way if the game goes on without a result.

It will have equal impetus on both sides and the side that is in losing position after the first two innings will be looking to play out for a draw which might just secure the championship.

Reserve Day Allocated:

As already announced when the tournament started, there will be a reserve day for the final of the ICC World Test Championship 2021 on June 23 and it will be utilized only in case, there have been some overs lost due to rain or some external factor which will be decided by the ICC match referee.

There won’t be an extension when the game hasn’t achieved any result by the fifth day and it will be declared as a draw like in the past.

Final To Be Played With Grades One Duke Ball:

The final is set to be played with Grades one duke red cricket ball instead of the regular SG ball or a Kookaburra ball. The duke balls generally have the shape intact and they are helped by the green wickets in English conditions too. It generally assists the bowler a lot more and they do have a lot more liking to these balls more as they keep seaming and swinging for a long time.

Player Review To Be Confirmed:

Usually, when an LBW decision is reviewed, there has been a confirmation on whether the batsman has offered a shot or tried to play the ball. Now, the fielding skipper or the dismissed batsman who is on the verge of taking a review might just confirm with the umpire if there has been any genuine attempt made to play the ball. This rule has been implemented from the series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka recently.

Short Run To Be Reviewed:

The Short runs were generally called by the on-field umpires and his decision has been final always. However. there is a slight change in this rule and the third umpire will automatically review the on-field umpire’s decision to call the short run and any change will be conveyed to the on-field umpire before the next delivery is bowled. This will ensure that the mistakes by the on-field umpire get reduced.

Alternation In LBW Reviews:

There has been a slight alternation in the LBW reviews with the wicket zone. The height margin for the ball hitting the top of the stumps was generally considered as umpire’s call and now, it has been resized to keep the height and width of the balls hitting the stumps in the umpire’s call to be same. This will be a significant change in DRS decisions and bowlers will get more wickets through this.