These test matches were abandoned without play!
Test matches typically span five days with play occurring nearly every day, making it quite unusual for a Test to be completely abandoned without any play. However, there have been rare instances where Test matches were abandoned without a toss or a single ball being bowled. Here, we’ll review the list of such Test matches that were abandoned before any play took place.
Old Trafford saw another Test match abandoned without a ball bowled after 48 years, this time between England and Australia in the 1990 Ashes series. Coincidentally, it was also the third Test of a 5-match series. Scheduled as a 4-day match with a rest day following the first two days, the weather thwarted all plans. Persistent rain throughout the entire duration prevented the toss from occurring, leading to the game's abandonment. Despite the scheduling adjustments, the weather's impact meant that no play was possible, and the match was called off without any cricket action.
Another third Test between Australia and England was called off, but this incident led to a significant development in cricket history: the birth of the ODI format. Initially, the Test was set to begin, with England winning the toss and choosing to field. However, as players took the field, rain started pouring and didn’t relent for three days, making it almost impossible to complete the Test match. On the third day, administrators decided to abandon the Test and instead organized a 60-over match on the fifth day, marking the inception of One Day Internationals (ODIs).
The first recorded instance of a Test match being abandoned without a ball bowled occurred in the late 19th century, involving arch-rivals England and Australia. The final Test of a 3-match series was set to take place at Old Trafford, Manchester. However, persistent rain over all three scheduled days prevented even the toss from occurring. Consequently, the game had to be called off. England had already secured the series 2-0 by winning the first two matches, leaving the abandoned Test without impact on the final outcome.
Rain was the cause of the abandonment of this Test match in Dunedin. Persistent rain over the first three days led the umpires to call off the game. On the fourth day, an unofficial one-day match was held between the two teams. This was the second time a Test match in Dunedin involving New Zealand and an Asian team had to be abandoned due to weather conditions.
New Zealand is involved in the most recent instance of a Test match being abandoned, marking the first such occurrence of the 21st century. This match would have been the first-ever Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand, but rain thwarted the plans. The game was scheduled to be hosted by Afghanistan at their adopted venue in Greater Noida, India. Despite no rain on the first two days, damp patches on the outfield prevented any play. Over the following three days, rain returned, ensuring that no action could take place and leading to the abandonment of the Test.
As the game continues to evolve, the resilience and adaptability of teams and organizers remain crucial in ensuring that such disruptions are minimized, preserving the rich tradition and excitement of Test cricket.
