Live coverage has concluded.
1:44am
Nope. The rain has returned, and its returned with a vengeance.
The umpires have called that play has been abandoned for the day.
That means that we will be going into day six - should it be needed.
1:35am
A bit of chat around what this rain will mean for the actual playing XIs.
If it stays as damp as it is now, then the Blackcaps will almost certainly go with a full seam attack at the expense of Ajaz Patel.
India meanwhile might reconsider the XI that they named overnight on Thursday, potentially bringing in the exceptional Mohammed Siraj for one of their spinners.
Still though, we have to wait for the ground to dry before we can have a toss, and have the final teams confirmed.
1:30am
Another update from Southampton. It's started to drizzle again, but we're still on for the inspection in half an hour.
1:02am
The latest from Southampton is that the umpires have just had a look out on the ground. It's still too wet for play to begin any time soon.
They'll wait another hour before they check again at 2:00am NZ time.
12:45am
We'll hear from the ground at 1:30am NZ time. Hopefully the rain stays away between now and then, so we can have an idea of when we could have a toss, and then some play.
12:30am
Time for another update from the ground after the lunch break.
And it looks like the rain has stopped! The groundstaff are out and doing what they can to remove the water.
The main covers are still on, and the super-soppers are in action. Finger's crossed that the rain stays away in time for the ground to dry and let us get some play in.
12:09am
There'll be another update from the ground at 12:30am - but it could be more of the same with the rain still falling over Southampton.
11:45pm
Lunch has been taken. We'll have 40 minutes of the scheduled break, in which we can hope it'll stop raining.
11:39pm
Meanwhile, around 165km away, there's no rain coming down in Bristol - where England and India's women's sides are playing a test match of their own.
On the other hand, it's also raining over London and Lord's, where the World Test Championship final was originally meant to be played.
The final was moved to Southampton to allow India to quarantine and train on site after their arrival in the UK from their COVID-stricken homeland.
11:30pm
Time for another update from the ground, and it's still raining.
The Blackcaps have had a wander around the ground, most of them in jandals, but there's still a lot of water on the surface of the ground.
Don't expect play anytime soon, but we'll keep you posted with any developments as soon as we know.
10:30pm
Just a quick update from the ground, and it's still absolutely pouring down.
Plenty of India fans are braving the weather to support their team though.
10:07pm
Still playing the waiting game I'm afraid. But if there's one reason to smile for Kiwi fans, it's that the pitch looked very green yesterday.
Here's hoping that the groundstaff have left that healthy grass covering in place for when play (eventually) begins.
9:49pm
Definitely no play before lunch.
9:19pm
It's a game of hurry up and wait at the moment.
It's still raining out on the ground, and once that stops the groundstaff will have to ensure that there's no water on the outfield or playing square.
At the moment though, we'll be very lucky to get any play in before lunch.
8:36pm
Good evening! We're around 45 mins from what's supposed to be the start of play, but as you might have predicted, the weather has other ideas.
A persistent drizzle is hanging over the Ageas Bowl, and the match officials were out on the field having a look a few minutes ago.
Here's hoping that conditions clear up in time for an on-time(ish) start.
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Kia ora folks and welcome to Newshub's coverage of the World Test Championship final between New Zealand and India from the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
The bad news is that it’s absolutely bucketing down over Southampton, with little to no play expected on the first day. Not to fear though, because we can take a sixth day’s play - only for weather though.
Should rain wipe away any chance of a result from the five (or six) days, then both captains - Kane Williamson and Virat Kohli - will lift a shared trophy.
India have announced their XI for the clash, naming two spinners in the two Ravis - Ashwin and Jadeja, but the Blackcaps are wanting to wait until the wicket is revealed.
NZ TAB odds: New Zealand $3.00, India $3.50, Draw $2.15
Teams:
New Zealand (from) - Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Will Young, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, BJ Watling, Tom Blundell, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel
India: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinka Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah
Blackcaps' winning record over India counts for nothing: Southee
The Blackcaps' superior recent record over India counts for nothing heading into the World Test Championship final, seamer Tim Southee says.
With the two sides to meet at Southampton's Ageas Bowl from Friday to decide which nation will be crowned as inaugural winners of the World Test Championship.
The Blackcaps are coming into the test arguably in the best position. New Zealand has warmed up with a series victory over hosts England, while India has only had one intra-squad match as their preparation.
New Zealand also holds the wood over India in test cricket, winning the two sides' last series 2-0 at the start of 2020, with neither test lasting four days, nevermind five.
To rub salt in the wounds, the Blackcaps also knocked India out of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, winning by 18 runs in a two-day encounter in Manchester. All in all, the Blackcaps haven't lost to India in an ICC event since the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.
But speaking ahead of Friday's opening day in Southampton, Southee says that New Zealand's recent wins mean nothing in the context of the World Test Championship final.
"It was a great series to be a part of, we played some pretty good cricket in our own conditions," Southee says.
"But I don't think we can read too much into that. It's a one-off test match, the final of the Test Championship in a neutral venue.
"That was a wee while ago. It was nice to play India in the cycle, and then obviously we get another chance in the coming week as well.
"I don't think you can read too much into it. It was a great couple of test matches to be a part of, but we know this is just a one-off.
"We need to turn up on Friday and give our best shot over the coming week."
The series win over England, New Zealand's first since 1999, does put the Blackcaps in good stead, with a number of players - Southee included - putting in impressive performances to build into Friday's final.
"We've had a great start to the tour. It's always great fun to come over to the UK and play over here.
"We've played two tests against England, which obviously has been pretty good for us. I think it's been a great preparation leading into this test final.
"We've had a number of guys that have had good performances throughout those two test matches.
"A couple of days' training today and tomorrow, and as you know, we're all looking forward to the ultimate goal of this tour.
One major concern though will come from the weather. Of the five, potentially six days, of the World Test Championship final, rain is forecast to fall.
And while a sixth day can be taken to secure a result, it seems likely that rain could prove to be a decisive factor in determining whether or not there's a winner.
But Southee knows that there's no point in the Blackcaps worrying about the weather.
"We've had two beautiful days in the lead up so far," Southee adds.
"I know there's a lot of rain forecast, but whether that hits us or not we don't know. We're trying to control the things we can control, and weather's not one of those things we can control.
"I guess we've just got to wait and see how the next few days pan out.
Should the World Test Championship be drawn, then both New Zealand and India will share the inaugural trophy.
