In an unprecedented turn of events, the highly anticipated Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand in Greater Noida has had its fourth day of play completely washed out due to relentless rain and a soggy ground. This grim situation is becoming alarmingly familiar as we inch closer to a rare occurrence in the rich history of Test cricket—an entire match that could conclude without a single ball being bowled. Remarkably, this would mark only the eighth time it has happened since 1890.
Update on the Afghanistan-New Zealand Test Match
The cancellation of the fourth day comes on the heels of the third-day washout, leaving players confined to their hotel rooms and fans in dismay. With no action taking place thus far, anticipation looms over the potential for play on the fifth day. However, judging by the current weather forecasts, it appears increasingly unlikely that conditions will improve enough to allow for cricket to resume.
Historical Context: Test Matches Without Play
Since the inception of Test cricket in 1877, instances of complete washouts—wherein no balls are bowled throughout the match—have been exceedingly rare. To date, there have been only seven such occurrences. The first recorded washout took place in August 1890 during a match between Australia and England. This was followed by another washout at the same venue in July 1938, also involving Australia and England.
List of Notable Test Match Washouts
- Australia vs. England – August 1890
- Australia vs. England – July 1938
- Australia vs. New Zealand – December 1970
- Pakistan vs. New Zealand – February 1989
- West Indies vs. England – March 1990
- Pakistan vs. New Zealand – December 1998
- India vs. New Zealand – December 1998
In total, matches played between Australia and New Zealand in England and other historic matches have contributed to this rare phenomenon. The last complete washout occurred 26 years ago, and now we find ourselves in a similar predicament between Afghanistan and New Zealand.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the Match?
With the grim weather forecast, cricket enthusiasts are left wondering if this Test match will follow in the footsteps of its similarly washed-out predecessors. Should the fifth day also be canceled, the match would enter the annals of history as the eighth complete washout in 134 years of Test play, a statistic that underscores the unpredictability of cricket in the face of the elements.
As the situation unfolds, players and fans alike remain hopeful, albeit cautiously, for a miracle—a short break in the rain that would allow this match to finally see some action and escape the history of despair that has cast a shadow over it.
