Five Finals of ICC Tournaments Affected by Weather
Weather has shaped the outcome of several ICC tournament finals. From rain-ruined matches to reserve days and the Duckworth-Lewis method, here are five ICC finals where the weather played a decisive role.
1. 2002 Champions Trophy Final — Washed Out Twice
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Teams | India vs Sri Lanka |
| Venue | Colombo |
| What happened | Rain washed out the final on two consecutive days |
After two washed-out attempts, India and Sri Lanka were declared joint winners — the only time a major ICC trophy has been shared.
2. 2019 World Cup Final — No Rain, But the Super Over
The 2019 final at Lord's was unaffected by rain, but it deserves mention for the playing conditions: the slow pitch made strokeplay difficult, contributing to the tie that led to the famous Super Over.
3. 2021 World Test Championship Final — Reserve Day Used
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Teams | India vs New Zealand |
| Venue | Southampton |
| What happened | Rain washed out two days; reserve day used |
New Zealand won on the sixth day, with the reserve day proving essential. Without it, the match would have been a draw.
4. 2022 T20 World Cup — Rain Disruptions
Several matches in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia were affected by rain, including washed-out games that shaped the semi-final lineup. The final itself was played in good weather, with England beating Pakistan.
5. 2023 World Cup — Dew Factor
While no 2023 final match was rained out, dew was a major factor throughout the tournament in India. Teams chasing won most evening matches, and the toss became crucial — including in the final, where Australia chose to chase and won.
How Weather Rules Work
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Reserve day | Used for knockouts if rain prevents a result |
| DLS method | Recalculates targets in rain-affected limited-overs games |
| Minimum overs | 20 per side for ODIs, 5 per side for T20Is for a result |
Which ICC final was shared due to rain?
The 2002 Champions Trophy final between India and Sri Lanka was shared after rain washed out two days.
What happens if rain washes out a World Cup final?
A reserve day is used. If no play is possible, the trophy is shared.
Alice Mirza
Cricket is Alice Mirza’s passion, and he loves playing, watching, and discussing the game. The Cricket blog is my way of spreading my thoughts about the game. Previously, I ghost-wrote for a few websites. For me, cricket is more than just a game.