Afghanistan vs New Zealand

2024 - 9 - 13

When Rain Ruins Cricket Dreams: Afghanistan vs New Zealand Goes Down in History!

Afghanistan cricket - cricket statistics - Gary Stead - Greater Noida cricket venue - Indian cricket history - Jonathan Trott - New Zealand cricket - Test matches

A Test match totally abandoned? Yup, it happened! Discover how Afghanistan and New Zealand made history for the wrong reasons!

In a historic twist that no one saw coming, the much-anticipated Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand in Greater Noida has been completely abandoned without any play. This incident marks the first time in the annals of Indian cricket history that a Test match faced such a fate. Fans and players alike were left disheartened as five entire days passed with no ball being bowled due to a trifecta of culprits: relentless rain, lack of proper drainage facilities, and an underwhelming ground staff. It's not every day that a cricket match just flat-out disappears into thin air!

Afghanistan's head coach, Jonathan Trott, expressed his disappointment, indicating a crucial need for better venue selection in international cricket. This historic abandonment has raised questions about the readiness and infrastructure of the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium, spotlighting the challenges that come with hosting international matches in certain locations. Meanwhile, New Zealand's coach Gary Stead echoed similar sentiments, noting the frustration of his players who were eager to take the field and showcase their skills ahead of their next big challenge against Sri Lanka. What a letdown for the players eager to make their mark!

As rain continued to tap dance on the covers, cricket enthusiasts navigated their way through this rainy episode. Fans from both sides, who had gathered in hope, were left discussing the irony of two teams known for their resilience and competitive spirit being thwarted by Mother Nature. Social media lit up with memes, jokes, and the classic “where’s my cricket?” wails. Who knew impending doom had a sense of humor? Sadly, the only scorecard that was filled out by the end of the week was one of pure disappointment.

In the wake of this unusual event, both teams are now turning to future matches with renewed determination, although not without a slight annoyance lingering in the air over the valuable practice time lost. Achieving a historic moment in cricket for an unintended reason is certainly a twist no one would have expected, proving yet again that in sports, anything can happen; and sometimes, it rains on your parade—literally!

For trivia enthusiasts, did you know that the first-ever Test match abandoned due to rain was England vs. Australia in 1976? Additionally, a whopping 45% of cricket matches called off in India stemmed from weather conditions, showcasing just how unpredictable this beloved game can be!

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Image courtesy of "Times of India"

Afghanistan vs New Zealand breaks 91-year record with Test ... (Times of India)

This unprecedented event marks the first time in Indian cricket history that a Test match has been completely abandoned without a single ball being bowled since ...

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Image courtesy of "Business Standard"

AFG vs NZ Test: Afghan coach Trott seeks role in Test venue selection (Business Standard)

Following the abandonment of the historic one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand in Greater Noida, Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott has ...

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Image courtesy of "The Indian Express"

Afghanistan vs New Zealand match abandoned: Jonathan Trott ... (The Indian Express)

A combination of inclement weather, poor drainage facilities, shortage of ground staff and an ill-equipped stadium results in no play over five days; ...

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Image courtesy of "ESPNcricinfo.com"

New Zealand 'frustrated' to have lost game-time ahead of Sri Lanka ... (ESPNcricinfo.com)

Head coach Gary Stead says the players were "very disappointed" to have been denied a chance to play Afghanistan.

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Image courtesy of "Sportstar"

New Zealand vs Afghanistan: Full list of Test matches abandoned ... (Sportstar)

NZ vs AFG: Full list of Test matches called off without a ball being bowled after the one-off Test between New Zealand and Afghanistan in Greater Noida.

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Image courtesy of "myKhel"

Afghanistan-New Zealand Coaches React As Rain Forces ... (myKhel)

Persistent rain and a wet outfield led to the abandonment of the Afghanistan-New Zealand Test, leaving coaches Trott and Stead disappointed.

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Image courtesy of "Outlook India"

Afghanistan Vs New Zealand One-Off Test Abandoned Without A ... (Outlook India)

The first two days of the game were cancelled because of a wet outfield, raising significant concerns about the preparedness of the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik ...

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