Opening day of Afghanistan-New Zealand Test called off due to wet outfield
Written by I Dig SportsThe first day of Test match between New Zealand and Afghanistan at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to wet outfield. The weather played fair all day, with the sun shining down on the ground. However, the drainage facilities could not dry out the playing area in its entirety, leaving the teams having to wait another day to begin their first ever Test encounter.
Multiple inspections took place, with the last one scheduled at 4.30pm, local time, but stumps was called at 4.05 pm. The toss has been scheduled for 9am tomorrow and the remaining four days will have 98 overs each with an early start at 9.30am, instead of 10am.
With day one already called off, both teams will hope that the rains and moderate thunderstorms, that have been forecast for the week, stay away.
The match is not part of the World Test Championship cycle but gives New Zealand an opportunity to acclimatise to subcontinental conditions with two Test series, against Sri Lanka and India lined up in the next couple of months.