During day 4 of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2023, India is in a tough position while chasing the daunting target of 444 against Australia at The Oval in London on June 10, Saturday. With all three results in the Ultimate Test still possible, the play could go on deep into day 5 with the coveted mace on the line.
Either way, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had included the reserve day in the playing conditions to ensure that this Test match gets a logical conclusion. According to the governing body of world cricket, if more than an hour’s playing time is lost due to rain or bad light in the WTC Final this year, then the reserve day will be used solely for the time the play was halted in the first place.
Meanwhile, it was in 2021, when the first-ever grand finale of the WTC went to day 6, i.e. reserve day, as New Zealand defeated India by 8 wickets at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. This Test match was marred by constant rain interruptions and bad light disruption from start to finish.
Furthermore, according to item 16.3.3 of the WTC Final playing conditions, if the Test match finishes in a draw, then the coveted mace will be shared between the two finalists. Furthermore, the prize money from the grand finale will get equally distributed between both the teams as well.
The condition on the website of the World Test Championship read, “If the match is drawn, tied, or abandoned, the teams shall be declared joint winners of the ICC World Test Championship.”