WTC Final Weather Forecast: Southampton weather on day 2
The much-awaited ICC World Test Championship final got off to a worse possible start with rain playing a spoilsport on Day 1. A significant part of the game has been washed out at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, and cricket fans worldwide are praying for better weather in the upcoming days. After all, India and New Zealand are locking horns in arguably the most high-octane Test match ever.
Both these sides have been phenomenal in the inaugural WTC cycle and would be raring to clinch the prestigious title. Team India didn’t do much wrong in this period and won one game after another. Except for New Zealand, they defeated every opposition in their campaign and would be confident ahead of this clash. However, many odds are against them as they landed in England on June 13 and subsequently underwent a 10-day quarantine period.
In spite of this, India announced their playing XI a day prior to the game, which shows the clarity and confidence in their camp. On the other hand, New Zealand, unlike previous ICC tournaments, won’t be the dark horse for this clash. In fact, many fans and experts have backed Kane Williamson’s men as favourites to clinch the WTC trophy.
Now, there are many factors backing this claim. The conditions in England are pretty similar to that of New Zealand. Hence, adapting to the surroundings wouldn’t have been a massive challenge for them. On top of that, they played two Tests against hosts England a few days prior to the summit clash. New Zealand even won that series 1-0, and their confidence would be sky-high.
As mentioned above, the Kiwis were the only side to defeat India in this WTC cycle. Hence, it would be interesting to see if Kane Williamson’s men will upset India again or Virat Kohli’s men will defy the odds. All the answers will be known in the coming days, and neither side would want to end being a runner-up.
Meanwhile, here’s a look at how the weather will behave on WTC Final Day 2 (June 19)
Persistent drizzle restricted the action on Day 1, with the pitch and ground being moist and damp. Fortunately, the weather would be slightly better on Day 2, and one can witness a significant amount of action. As per accuweather.com, the morning session would be partly sunny, with the cloud cover of being 45%. However, the weather in the afternoon session might not be that cricket-friendly.
Some showers are expected to come into the equation, which can keep players out of the field. The rain is expected to get heavier as the day progresses, and the groundsman will have a job in hand. Still, a significant amount of the game is expected to take place. Hence, both teams must buckle up.
