IND VS NZ 1ST TEST

Well, not a pleasing day by any means for the cricket fans and the cricketers themselves. We hoped for at least some action on this first day, but that has been totally dashed by the inclement weather in Bengaluru. This means, we have lost 3 sessions now, but worry not, folks! 12 sessions of play still remain to be utilized. Now, we keep our fingers crossed for the next day and can only pray that the rain stays away. However, the forecasts do predict otherwise. But, all we can do is stay optimistic. To make up for the lost overs on this first day, the play on Day 2 will begin 15 minutes earlier. Meaning, that the first ball, if the weather permits, will be bowled at 3.45 am GMT, on October 17th, Thursday. Till then, take care, ADIOS!

UPDATE - 9.05 am GMT - It's official! Play on Day 1 has been CALLED OFF! A steady drizzle since early morning kept the players off the field, and as the day progressed, the rain played a frustrating game of hide and seek. Just when it seemed the rain had finally stopped for a longer stretch, it returned, dashing all hopes of any play on the opening day. Additionally, the process of the HawkEye system formatting would take at least an hour and a half after all covers were removed. Even if play had started, there were concerns about how much cricket we could have seen, given the potential for bad light to curtail play early due to the gloomy overhead conditions.

UPDATE - 8.37 am GMT - Now then, the rain has subsided, again! The ground staff are quick to get on the field, and the match officials are also out to inspect the conditions. They’re starting with the main cover, and if the weather holds, we could be edging closer to some play. However, play might not start as soon as we hope. Saba Karim, on air, informs us that the HawkEye system formatting, which needs to be completed before any game starts, hasn’t been done yet due to the pitch being under covers all day yesterday and so far today. This process will take at least an hour and a half after all covers are removed. Saba also estimates that the officials will likely wait for another 30 to 45 minutes before making any decision. Anil Kumble joins in, noting that umpire Paul Reiffel’s facial expressions during the inspection suggest there might still be concerns, particularly with the damp areas surrounding the pitch. TEA has been taken, meaning two sessions have already been washed out.

UPDATE - 8.28 am GMT - Oopsie! In our previous update, we did wonder if it was too early to be optimistic, and now we have the answer. The drizzle has returned, and the ground staff, who had just started to peel off the covers, are now putting them back on. The rain continues to play hide and seek. Meanwhile, over in Multan, Pakistan have been bowled out for 366 in their first innings, and England have begun their reply, sitting at 6/0 after the first over. Expect the English openers to come out firing, so hop over to catch the action, but don’t forget to check back here for any weather improvements in Bengaluru.

UPDATE - 8.18 am GMT - A glimmer of hope, or is it too early to say? But, for now, the RAIN HAS STOPPED and the covers are coming off! But there's a stream of waterlogged on the covers. Also, for the first time today, the two match officiating umpires are out in the middle and are having a chat with the ground staff. We just might get an official update very soon. Fingers crossed! But, Tea is just around the corner, hardly 15 minutes or so left. So, pretty safe to say that the match will only start after Tea. Conditions applied - if only there's no rain or drizzle. Let's hope for the best. Also, the crowd in Chinnaswamy has gotten sparse due to consistent pouring and this positive development just might draw the crowd back to the stadium. Almost 19,000 tickets were sold, as earlier mentioned by Saba Karim on-air.

Given the persistent thick cloud cover, even if the rain stops completely, it's highly unlikely that the overcast conditions will clear. This weather pattern suggests that the playing conditions will heavily favour seam bowling. New Zealand boasts a quartet of seamers in their squad - Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, and William O'Rourke. In contrast, India's pace options are more limited, with only Bumrah, Siraj, and Akash Deep as their frontline seamers. For India, the inclusion of spin duo Ashwin and Jadeja in the playing XI seems certain. However, considering the seamer-friendly conditions, adding a third spinner to the lineup may not be a prudent strategy.

UPDATE - 7.37 am GMT - Uh, oh! RAIN IS BACK IN BENGALURU, AGAIN! And this time, it's a very steady downpour. So, another delay. The groundstaff had just started to inspect the conditions in the middle and also had a meeting with the match officials, but as of now, there's no activity whatsoever. What is more concerning is, that a threatening band of cloud cover is hovering over the 'Garden City' which might bring more rain. So for now, it's gloomy, muggy and overcast with a drizzle. We play the waiting game, optimistically. Every condition right now isn't permissible for the commencement of the game. Stay tuned for further updates.

UPDATE - 7.12 am GMT - Great news! The rain has finally stopped. The weather was anticipated to improve in the second session, and this could be the turnaround we've all been hoping for. With the venue's excellent drainage system, it should only take about 45 to 60 minutes to get the field ready for play. However, it’s still quite gloomy as the ground staff hover around the outfield. Let's keep our fingers crossed for no more rain.

UPDATE - 6.47 am GMT - Well, as per the schedule, the post-Lunch session should have started by now. But, that doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon. There's still a consistent drizzle in Bengaluru and we are in for more delay. But, the rain hasn't stopped the staunch cricket fans from turning up in the stadium. There's a fair bit of a crowd present, eagerly awaiting the commencement of the game. Stay tuned for further updates. 

UPDATE - 6.01 am GMT - With the rain showing no signs of relenting, an early LUNCH has been taken. Saba Karim, at the venue and holding an umbrella, brings us a glimmer of hope. He mentions that while the drizzle is steady, it has started to brighten up a bit. However, Anil Kumble offers a contrasting view, suggesting that the drizzle has settled in and may not relent anytime soon. Let's keep our fingers crossed for a turnaround when we return after Lunch.

The weather around the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is expected to be challenging for cricket over the next two days. On Day 2, afternoon showers are likely to disrupt play, with heavy rain predicted during the second session, potentially leading to significant delays. However, the forecast for Day 3 looks more promising, with a chance for uninterrupted play throughout the day. Although overcast conditions may prevail, the absence of rain could allow the match to progress without further weather-related interruptions, offering hope for a full day’s play. While it is predicted that the weather will improve over the weekend, on days four and five of the Test, some rain is still expected as per the Indian Meteorological Department. So it is undoubtedly going to be a start-stop kind of Test.

UPDATE - 5.28 am GMT - A glimmer of hope emerged as the rain had completely stopped not too long ago, but our joy was short-lived as the drizzle returned. The waiting game continues!

There's another exciting series in progress in the subcontinent. West Indies and Sri Lanka are currently battling it out in a 3-match T20I series. The first T20I was convincingly won by the tourists, but it now stands even-stevens as Sri Lanka bounced back very strongly and ran through their opponents in the 2nd T20I. Dambulla remains to be the exclusive venue for this T20I series before they head to Pallekele for the ODI series. Both teams are evenly matched and it has come down to a decider. Notably, West Indies are without the services of their marquee players like Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer and Andre Russell, but have got enough firepower in the ranks to challenge any opposition. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, under the leadership of Charith Asalanka will aim to take the home advantage and seal the series. The 3rd T20I is scheduled to be played on October 17th at 1.30 pm GMT.

UPDATE - 5.01 am GMT - Some positive news from Bengaluru! The rain has eased to a light drizzle, but there is still no activity on the ground. The ground staff are on standby, waiting for the rain to stop completely before they can commence their work. Meanwhile, down in Multan, Day 2 has begun with Pakistan resuming their innings at 259/5. You can switch tabs to follow all the action there, but make sure to keep an eye on the situation here as we await clearer skies.

As the waiting game continues in Bengaluru, let's hop over to Multan, where Day 2 of the second Test between Pakistan and England is about to begin shortly. Here’s a quick recap of what unfolded on the opening day. The standout performance came from debutant Kamran Ghulam, who scored a brilliant century, rescuing Pakistan after they found themselves in a spot of trouble early on. However, a couple of wickets in the third session meant that the honours were evenly split at the end of the first day. With the new ball now 10 overs old and expected early morning assistance, England will be hoping to run through Pakistan's lower order.

UPDATE - 4.30 am GMT - The rain continues to fall steadily in Bengaluru, and the covers remain firmly in place. Live visuals show Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli, along with Indian batting coach Abhishek Nayar, heading to the indoor practice area. New Zealand’s luck with the weather in India this year hasn’t been great. The last time they were here for a one-off Test against Afghanistan, the match was abandoned without a single ball being bowled. Let’s hope the weather improves so we can get this much-anticipated series underway. Stay tuned for more updates.

While we wait for the rain to relent here, let’s take a quick look at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 as the tournament heads to the knockout stage! It’s been an exciting tournament, to say the least. Especially with the West Indies Women surprising everyone by defeating the favourites from Group B, England Women, to secure their spot in the knockouts the other night. Now we have our final four - Australia Women and New Zealand Women from Group A, and West Indies Women and South Africa Women from Group B. The first semifinal is set for October 17 at the Dubai International Stadium, where Australia Women, the Group A toppers, will take on South Africa Women, the Group B runners-up at 2 pm GMT. Then, on October 18, Sharjah will host the second semifinal, featuring West Indies Women, the Group B toppers against New Zealand Women, the Group A runners-up, also at 2 pm GMT. It’s shaping up to be an exciting finish!

UPDATE - 3.46 am GMT - Saba Karim is at the venue, holding an umbrella and reporting that the picture looks bleak at the moment. There has been a persistent drizzle since early morning, and unfortunately, it seems to be getting heavier. He further adds that not all of the outfield is covered, only the playing surface and the square, but that shouldn't be a major issue for the outfield once the rain stops. Mentions that Bengaluru’s excellent drainage system means we can expect a quick turnaround once the weather clears.

UPDATE - 3.29 am GMT - The official word is in! The toss has been delayed due to rain. On a positive note, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium boasts one of the best drainage systems in India, and as per Anil Kumble, on air, once the rain stops, it should take no more than 45 minutes for the ground staff to get the field ready for play. Let's hope the rain subsides soon. 

UPDATE - 3.11 am GMT - Uh oh! A dampener first up. It's currently raining steadily at the venue, and it has been the case since early morning. The covers are firmly in place, and unfortunately, we may have a delayed start to the series opener. No official word yet. Let's hope for the best. Stay tuned for further updates!