Cricket

Afghanistan's Test Match Against New Zealand Abandoned Due to Unplayable OutfieldThe one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand in Greater Noida was abandoned without a ball bowled due to an unplayable outfield. Despite the first two days of the match being rain-free, the outfield remained too wet to ensure player safety.Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott expressed disappointment, stating that the players were eager to play and had trained well. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that venues are adequately prepared for Test matches, including proper drainage and ground staff.Trott acknowledged the hard work of the ground staff but noted that the excessive rainfall was unprecedented for this time of year. The overnight rain and early showers on the third and fourth days further worsened the ground conditions, making it impossible to play.Trott lamented the missed opportunity for Afghanistan to gain valuable experience against a higher-ranked side. He highlighted the potential of the pitch and the historic significance of the match for the Afghan players.Questions have been raised about the preparation of the ground, particularly the outfield. Trott attributed the issues to the time of year, but also acknowledged the need for improved facilities and more red-ball cricket to support the development of Afghanistan's Test side.Despite the disappointment, Trott remains optimistic about the future of Afghanistan's Test team. He believes that with proper support and investment, they can achieve similar success in the red-ball format as they have in white-ball cricket.

The one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand was abandoned on Friday (September 13, 2024) without a ball being bowled, marking only the eighth time in Test cricket history that such a situation has occurred.The first two days of the game were canceled due to a wet outfield, raising significant concerns about the preparedness of the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex. The remaining three days were then washed out due to persistent rain.Despite bright sunshine on the first two days, no play was possible as the umpires cited "players safety" as a concern. The midwicket area was a particular concern. To address the issue, groundsmen brought in dry sections of grass from the practice area to "transplant" in the midwicket zone.While the BCCI tried to assist by providing additional machinery and the Delhi Delhi & District Cricket Association and Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association helping out, it was a little too late.Afghanistan, who were granted their Test status in 2017 and have played only nine international red-ball games before this fixture, were the hosts. It was the first time Afghanistan, who don't get to play too many Tests with big nations, was scheduled to take on New Zealand.This fixture was, however, not a part of the ICC's World Test Championship cycle. As for the stadium, match referee Javagal Srinath's report on the preparedness of the venue will go a long way in deciding its fate.

The Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium in Noida has faced severe criticism after the one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand was abandoned due to unplayable ground conditions. Despite four days of scheduled play, not a single ball was bowled, leaving both teams and fans disappointed.The ground's condition was a major concern, with wet patches and standing water in various areas. The groundstaff struggled to prepare the surface in time, and the covers proved insufficient to protect the entire ground from heavy rainfall.The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) expressed frustration over the infrastructure, while media reports highlighted the mismanagement and lack of preparedness. However, an alleged stadium manager, who remained anonymous, denied any wrongdoing.Speaking to 93.5 Red FM, the manager claimed that critics were not understanding the situation and that "people want content." He defended the pitch preparation, stating that it met the demands of Afghanistan's coach, Jonathan Trott.The manager also pointed to the heavy rainfall as the primary cause of the abandonment, emphasizing that even the nearby Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi had canceled matches due to the downpour. He argued that the Afghanistan team was aware of the ground's conditions and had trained in rainy conditions.Despite the manager's explanations, the stadium's reputation has been tarnished. The incident has raised questions about the quality of infrastructure and the ability of Indian stadiums to host international matches during the monsoon season.

Torrential rain has washed out the Bank Holiday Monday clash between South East Stars and Western Storm at Beckenham, leaving both sides with two points.Only six overs were possible in the match, with Western Storm reaching 38 for 3 before the heavens opened, drenching the outfield and leaving pools of water on the bowlers' run-ups.Umpires James Tredwell and Fiona Richards gave the ground every chance to recover, calling for a 4.45pm inspection, but a further shower left them no alternative but to abandon the game.The result means that South East Stars remain unbeaten in the competition, while Western Storm are yet to win.In the little play before the rain, there was a lovely moment for Tilly Corteen-Coleman and a dazzling piece of fielding from Stars' all-rounder Paige Scholfield.England U19 slow left-arm spinner Corteen-Coleman, currently on a pay as you play contract with Stars, gave the hosts the perfect start, bowling Alex Griffiths with the first ball of the game.Shortly afterwards, Tash Farrant removed Emma Corney, the batter's attempted pull shot coming off the toe end of the bat for Phoebe Franklin to take a good catch falling forward at mid-wicket.Then just before the rain arrived, Niamh Holland, who'd struck some fine boundaries square of the wicket, chanced her arm on a short single to Scholfield and paid the price, the South African pulling off a direct hit despite only having one stump to aim at.