The first-ever day of Test cricket at Greater Noida Sports Complex was called off due to a wet outfield. Despite clear and sunny weather, the drainage system failed to dry the playing surface. New Zealand and Afghanistan will have to wait for their Test debut at this venue.
Heavy rain over recent days had left the outfield soggy, posing a significant challenge for the ground staff. Chief curator Amit Sharma noted that maintaining the outfield’s condition was difficult with the persistent wet weather. Despite efforts to dry the field, including using super-soppers, wet patches remained, particularly in the bowlers’ run-up areas.
Multiple inspections were conducted throughout the day, with the final one scheduled for 4:30 pm local time. However, the day’s play was abandoned at 4:05 pm. The toss is now planned for 9 am the following day, with the match’s remaining four days set to feature 98 overs each, starting at 9:30 am instead of the originally planned 10 am.
While this Test is not part of the World Test Championship cycle, it offers New Zealand a chance to adjust to subcontinent conditions ahead of their upcoming series against Sri Lanka and India. Afghanistan, having played two one-off Tests this year, is seeking its first Test victory since 2021.
Leave a Reply