Cricket enthusiasts have always been familiar with the game being played at apex levels only in the limited overs format. But now since the past two years, where the tournament for tests had begun, it gave the whole new meaning to the test cricket which is considered to be the purest form of cricket. “The Ashes”, a very prominent and popular test series among fans which has a very significant history for itself marked the beginning of the ICC WTC in August 2019. This marked the beginning of the long tournament for the next two years from 2019 to the finals in June 2021. World’s best 9 teams qualified to compete with each other in this ICC tournament having to play 3 home and 3 away test series for the next two years.
All these said and done, now was the time for the ultimate test, the finals of ICC World Test Championship. Through the course of two years, best of the best teams were tested on friendly and ferocious conditions in home and away terrains of the game. This lengthy tournament kept cricketing fans waited for the last two years to arrive at the site of this day, June 18 2021 the finals of ICC WTC. Irrespective of what teams they like, irrespective of all the positions on the points table of WTC, everybody was equally excited for this massive final, ultimately they all wished to see who’s dream of winning this ICC WTC trophy would fulfill in the debut season of the tournament. The final was played by the top 2 teams of the the world- INDIA and NEW ZEALAND.
The Ageas Bowl in Southampton was relatively a nerve wrecking experience for fans as well as the teams themselves. The venue being a not so familiar terrain to both the teams already had now become unpredictable for its weather and continuous shower on the day 1 of the WTC final. Indeed not a great way to start the final of such an event! New Zealand had never played in this venue before, on the other hand India had played on this venue twice and had no winning experience on both the occasions. The final was given an extra day in the full intention to avoid a tie and to declare a winner for the tournament, which indeed got fruitful as the game continued for the 6th day after the continuous rain on 2 occasions of the 5 day test match. Having had to play on unfamiliar conditions, batting units from both teams were not having an easy time and indeed it was up to the bowlers to control the test match and bring victory to their side.
Fans were devastated from day 1, for all the rain, the weather conditions and predictions that were being made. But, all’s well that ends well, fans could finally cherish the final as it was a clear sky on day 6 and concluded with the Kiwis winning the title of the ICC WTC! They totally deserved every bit of it, Kane Williamson the captain of the winning side now finally had an ICC trophy and a victory to cherish after the unfortunate defeat at the 2019 World Cup.
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