WTC Final: Ganguly-Led ICC Cricket Committee Make Big Changes Ahead Of IND vs AUS Match; Report

World Test Championship: India and Australia will lock horns in June 2023 in the WTC finals in London.

The much-awaited World Test Championship (WTC) final is set to take place in London next month between Team India and Australia. Days before the blockbuster clash, the International Cricket Council (ICC) made a much-awaited rule change to the playing conditions of the international games. A report from Cricbuzz suggests that the ICC cricket committee headed by Sourav Ganguly has made the changes and the message has been conveyed to both finalists - India and Australia.

What are the changes made by ICC?

1) The soft signal rule has been changed.

2) Flood lights can be switched on during the game in case of poor light.

3) There will be a sixth reserve day in the Test match between India and Australia.

Why did ICC change the soft signal rule?

The soft signal rule has been critized on numerous occasions after small decisions on the field changed the result for one team or the other. The change means the third umpire will have the final call on doubtful catches.

"ICC should get rid of the soft signal and let the 3rd umpire who has all the technology make the decision when the on-field umpires send it upstairs, all the controversy is always around the soft signal given. This isn't a comment on the decision FYI (sic)," said England's Test skipper Ben Stokes after a controversial decision took place during Australia vs South Africa Test earlier this year.

According to ICC rules, a "Soft Signal is the visual communication by the bowler`s end umpire to the third umpire (accompanied by additional information via two-way radio where necessary) of his/her initial on-field decision prior to initiating an Umpire Review."

The rule further states: "Should both on-field umpires require assistance from the third umpire to make a decision, the bowler`s end umpire shall firstly take a decision on-field after consulting with the striker`s end umpire, before consulting by two-way radio with the third umpire."

"Such consultation shall be initiated by the bowler`s end umpire to the third umpire by making the shape of a TV screen with his/her hands, followed by a Soft Signal of Out or Not out made with the hands close to the chest at chest height. If the third umpire advises that the replay evidence is inconclusive, the on-field decision communicated at the start of the consultation process shall stand."

India squad for WTC final

India’s Test squad WTC final: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

KL Rahul ruled out

India opener KL Rahul will undergo surgery to address the issue, which means he will also miss the upcoming World Test Championship final against Australia. Rahul expressed his disappointment in an emotional post on social media, where he thanked his team for their support and wished them well for the rest of the tournament.