Tests abandoned without a ball bowled | Cricket News
England vs Australia, Old Trafford, Manchester, 1890
It was the third and final Test of the series with England having won the first two.WG Grace led the English side, while Billy Murdoch captained Australia. It rained for three days, and the match had to be called off without the toss taking place.
England vs Australia, Old Trafford, Manchester, 1938
The third of a five-match Ashes series with Manchester being the venue of the abandonment once again. England was led by Wally Hammond, while Don Bradman was Australia’s skipper. The series was drawn 1-1, but the third Test had to be called off due to continuous rain and soggy outfield. The toss didn’t take place.
Australia vs England, Melbourne Cricket Ground, 1970
It was the third Test of a seven-match series, which England won 2-0. The match was abandoned on the third day. England skipper Ray Illingworth had chosen to bowl after winning the toss. But just when the teams were entering the field, it began to rain, and it did so for three straight days in Melbourne. Bill Lawry was Australia’s captain. After the abandonment, a 60-over per side game was organised on the scheduled fifth day which Australia won by 5 wickets. This match gained the status of the first-ever One-Day International.
New Zealand vs Pakistan, Dunedin, 1989
The first of Dunedin’s two called off matches. It was the first of a three-match series which was drawn 0-0 in the end. John Wright was New Zealand’s captain, while Imran Khan was Pakistan’s. It rained incessantly on the first two days and the match was abandoned on Day 3 without a ball being bowled. Later, a One-Day International was played on the scheduled fourth day which New Zealand won by 8 wickets.
West Indies vs England, Bourda, Guyana, 1990
The second of a four-match Test series, which West Indies eventually won 2-1. Viv Richards was the captain of the West Indies, while Graham Good led England. It rained continuously for the first three days and the match was consequently called off. An ODI was played on the scheduled fifth day which West Indies won by 7 wickets.
Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, Faisalabad, 1998
It was the third Test of a three-match series, which, surprisingly, Zimbabwe won 1-0 after their 7-wicket win in the first Test in Peshawar. The second Test in Lahore was a drawn affair. The match was scheduled from Dec 17-21, and thick fog had engulfed Faisalabad. Unlike rain playing spoilsport in earlier abandoned Tests, this time it was heavy fog that had reduced visibility so much that the match had to be called off on the fourth day. The series had Aamer Sohail as Pakistan’s captain and Alistair Campbell was Zimbabwe’s.
New Zealand vs India, Dunedin, 1998
It was the first of a three-match Test series which New Zealand eventually won 1-0. Mohammad Azharuddin led India, while New Zealand was captained by Stephen Fleming. It continued to rain into the third day, prompting the match officials to call off the Test on the third day itself. An unofficial one-dayer was played on the scheduled fourth day. Interestingly, the sixth and seventh abandoned Tests were called off on the same day – Dec 20, 1998.
