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In an unusual occurrence in cricket history, the solitary Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand, scheduled at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground in Uttar Pradesh, was called off without any play taking place.
Persistent rainfall and a faulty drainage system caused the highly anticipated game to be canceled, much to the disappointment of both teams and fans.
This unusual event is part of a select group of just eight Test matches in cricket’s long history to be called off without a toss. Well, with 5000+ test matches having been played around the world, this fact really shows how rare this is. Actually, the chances of seeing a Test completely rained out is better than being struck by lightning.
Let’s quickly review the history of Test matches that met the same fate:
England vs Australia, 1890 – Old Trafford
The first-ever Test to be abandoned without play occurred in Manchester. With England having already secured the series, the rain spoiled the third Test, making it the first of its kind.
England vs Australia, 1938 – Old Trafford
Nearly five decades later, England and Australia met again at Old Trafford, but rain once more stopped play. This time on a 4 day test format, with Australia trying to capitalize after back-to-back draws.
Australia vs England, 1970 – Melbourne
The Aussies hosted the third match in this rare category, with Ray Illingworth winning the toss for England. But malignant rain caused the cancellation of the match, but in turn the cricket world witnessed the maiden One Day International (ODI) which was arranged as a desperate measure to compensate the lost finance.
New Zealand vs Pakistan, 1989 – Dunedin
Dunedin experienced its first match cancellation when rain halted the game between New Zealand and Pakistan on the third day. Instead, the two sides decided to settle for a one day game.
West Indies vs England, 1990 – Georgetown
In a similar situation, England’s touring team faced an abandoned Test due to bad weather. But at least both sides got an ODI in for it, and the Windies won.
Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, 1998 – Faisalabad
This Test wasn’t disrupted by rain, but thick fog in Faisalabad led to poor visibility, forcing the game’s abandonment. It marked a significant moment, as Pakistan had suffered a rare series defeat to Zimbabwe.
New Zealand vs India, 1998 – Dunedin
Coincidentally, on the same day as Pakistan’s abandoned Test, India and New Zealand also saw their game called off due to weather. So the teams just decided to play a friendly one day game.
Afghanistan vs New Zealand, 2024 – Greater Noida:
The latest instance of a Test being called off occurred between Afghanistan and New Zealand. Both teams were eager to compete, but consistent rain and an under-prepared outfield meant the game never started, bringing disappointment for players and spectators alike.
This cancellation joins the short but distinguished list of Test matches that never started, which serves to emphasise just how unusual such events are in the history of cricket. Well for afghanistan it was an opportunity to play against better competition but mother nature had different ideas. Both sides will now turn their attention to their next fixtures and hope for better weather and some more exciting cricket.
