No wonder they say that Test Cricket is dying. The inaugral Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test match was called off before Day 5 even began. This match has now joined the ranks of just eight Test matches in cricket history where no play was possible over the entire five days. The last time this happened was during the India vs New Zealand Test in Carisbrook, Dunedin. 5 days of cricket to be played and yet no bowl was bowled.
This was supposed to be the first-ever Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand, making it even more disappointing. Despite clear skies on the first two days, the Greater Noida Stadium authorities couldn’t get the ground ready, leading to heavy criticism for their lack of facilities and poor management.
This marks the first instance of a Test match being called off without a single delivery on Indian soil since 1933. In Asia, only one other Test match, between Pakistan and Zimbabwe in 1998, has been abandoned under similar circumstances.
“The fourth day of the only Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand teams is also not going to be played due to continued rainfall,” the Afghanistan Cricket Board said in a statement on Thursday.
Thankfully for both teams this Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test match was not part of World Test Championship. But for the game in general, this was not good at all.
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