With the final of the inaugural World Test Championship affected by rain — the first day’s play was washed out — fans of the game lashed out at the ICC for hosting the event in a country that sees persistent showers at this time of the year.
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Fans and pundits were all geared up for the World Test Championship Final where India were all set to take on New Zealand at Southampton. However, the English weather has played spoilsport thus far, with the first day’s play getting washed out. Though there is a reserve day in store for the game, the predictions for the next few days look similarly grim.
Two years after the 50-over World Cup, held in England, saw a number of games getting abandoned or curtailed due to rain, fans, rather harshly, have lashed out at the ICC for hosting the final in a country that is known for its inclement weather at this time of the year, even though the country recently experienced somewhat of a heatwave.
Obviously, rain is not in anyone’s control.
But a Final.. that too a one-off Test.. in England.. in the month of June.
Everything about this sounds stupid.
What was @ICC thinking?#WTCFinal
— Kanav Bali (@Concussion__Sub) June 18, 2021
#WorldTestChampionship This is the schedule of Rain for nxt 5 days in Southampton. Well done ICC, picking such a “nice” country like Eng as vune for WTC. @ICC @MichaelVaughan pic.twitter.com/RfnVrg64C1
— Soumyadip Das (@soumya_rmcf_94) June 18, 2021
When @ICC announced that the #WTCFinal was going to be held in the UK in June, literally my first thought was, “UK in June? Rain will 100% affect the match.” And that’s exactly what happened. It was a no-brainer.
— Tanvi (@TanviChitnis7) June 18, 2021
Rain washed out the first session of play on the opening day of the World Test Championship final at the Southampton Bowl .
Why @ICC risked this final?? We all know about English weather, very unfortunate and shameful. @ICC must apologise to fans.#WTCFinal2021 #WTCFinals pic.twitter.com/7LflFL3yMm
— Negi DipakSinh (@AdvDipakNegi) June 18, 2021
Such a big event by @ICC in the form of #WorldTestChampionship and if it doesn’t happen, the test mace will be shared.
ICC should have thought of this situation before deciding the venue.
It’s really sad for cricket fans to watch a rain interrupted match and that to #WTCFinal.— KEDAR (@kedar_mandawale) June 18, 2021
A few others suggested that the ICC host the game next week, as predictions seem brighter then.
Ffs.. look at the weather forecast from 24th.. @ICC should move the game to next week.. pic.twitter.com/qYtZJX7pRZ
— R Sharma () (@imdev_Pandit) June 18, 2021
Same to be happen tomorrow as well .. kindly clarify if play has been abandoned for 5 days…
Please reschedule the match as no improvement in weather in Southampton for next 5 days…
BCCI and ICC must consider the as this is the special test in 144 year’s…
— Ponmani Prabhu Shanmugam (@SkLordPrabhu) June 18, 2021
Hey @ICC – have some common sense and just push the WTC final for a few days. 2 years in the making, a rained out draw will be a terrible advertisement for Test Cricket. #INDvNZ #WTCFinal https://t.co/lMKngUexMd
— Rahul Ojha (@RahulOjha) June 17, 2021
A few even asked the ICC to take cue from the BCCI after the Indian board shifted the second half of the IPL to the UAE due to “monsoons in India.”
ICC can never be visionary like BCCI who shifted IPL second phase from India to UAE because of rain.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) June 18, 2021
ICC should start learning from BCCI. Should have changed the venue knowing that it’s gonna rain. Like how BCCI did with the IPL this year. Shifted to UAE because it would rain in India. Foresightedness.
— Venkat (@__veebee31) June 18, 2021
