A couple of fans had to leave the Ageas Bowl in Southampton during the World Test Championship final on Tuesday for abusing New Zealand players as they took on India. A lively crowd comprising of mostly Indian fans added to the intensity, with their chants in support of Virat Kohli his men ringing around Hampshire’s headquarters during the fifth day.

But there was an unsavory incident, with a spokesperson for the ICC, saying after stumps on Day 5: “We received reports of abuse directed at the New Zealand players. Our security team was able to identify the culprits and they were ejected from the ground. We will not tolerate any sort of abusive behavior in cricket.”

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New Zealand’s Tim Southee, asked about the incident in a post-play news conference, said: “It’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

Meanwhile, the veteran Indian spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin said he would happily play a timeless Test match to decide a winner in a match where two entire days’ play has been washed out without a ball bowled. Despite the fact that ICC has included a special provision for a reserve day in the hope of giving the game every chance to crown Test cricket’s first official world champions.

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Talking about the same during a chat on BBC Radio, R Ashwin said, “There is a prize up for grabs, but nobody can control the weather. It would be nice if the game kept extending and we played to a finish but I don’t think there is scope for that. The game is pretty well poised but with some more time it would be better. “If we can get the runs going we’re set up for a good finish.”