As you know, Test matches span over 5 days, with the play taking place on almost all days. So it’s quite rare to see a Test not happening at all and getting abandoned.
But there have been a few instances when Test matches were abandoned without a toss and a ball bowled.
Here, we’ll glance at the list of Test matches abandoned without a ball bowled.
1. England vs Australia | Manchester, 1890
The first incident dates back to the late 19th century between rivals England and Australia. It was the last Test of the 3-match series scheduled to take place at the Old Trafford in Manchester.
But, unfortunately, rain on all 3 playing days didn’t even allow the toss to happen, forcing the game to be called off. England had won the first 2 matches to seal the series 2-0 in their favour.
2. England vs Australia | Manchester, 1938
Old Trafford witnessed yet another abandoned Test match after 48 years between the same sides. Coincidentally, this was also the third Test of the 5-match Ashes.
It was a 4-day affair, with a rest day squeezed after the first 2 days. But it didn’t matter, as rain played spoilsport on all days, holding back the toss from taking place and getting abandoned.
3. Australia vs England | Melbourne, 1970-71
Another third Test between Australia and England was called off, though, this time in Australia. But this unexpected blow paved the way for the start of the ODI format.
How? So the Test was about to get underway, with England winning the toss and choosing to field first. But as the players strode out on the field, it started raining.
The rain didn’t stop for 3 days, erasing the chances of a complete Test match to almost zero. So the administrators decided to abandon the Test on the third day and rather came up with an altered plan.
They decided to organise a 60-over match on the fifth day of the Test, making it the first-ever ODI match.
4. New Zealand vs Pakistan | Dunedin, 1989
The first Test between New Zealand and Pakistan in 1989 followed the same pattern as the above match. Heavy rain ate up the first 2 days of the Test, with the match getting called off on the third day.
But the weather cleared on the fourth day, and the captains of both teams agreed to play an ODI match.
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5. West Indies vs England | Georgetown, 1990
A year later, the second Test between the West Indies and England followed the same fate, with the first 3 days witnessing no play due to a wet outfield. The match was abandoned on the third day.
The next day was a rest day, and the administrators decided to play an ODI on the fourth day. Wet conditions prevented the ODI from taking place on the fourth day, but it happened on the fifth, which the Windies won.
6. Pakistan vs Zimbabwe | Faisalabad, 1998
The third Test between Pakistan and Zimbabwe was abandoned for reasons apart from rain. The umpires pulled the plugs on the fourth day due to thick fog hampering the visibility.
It was so foggy in Faisalabad that players didn’t even bother to come to the ground. But the interruption came as a blessing for Zimbabwe, as they sealed the 3-match series 1-0.
7. New Zealand vs India | Dunedin, 1998
Some 13000 kilometres from Faisalabad, another Test was called off on the same day between New Zealand and India. This happened due to rain in Dunedin, unlike fog in Faisalabad.
The Test witnessed rain on the first 3 days, prompting the umpires to draw the curtains. An unofficial one-day match took place on the fourth day between the 2 sides.
This was the second abandoned Test match in Dunedin, involving New Zealand and an Asian team.
8. Afghanistan vs New Zealand | Greater Noida, 2024
New Zealand feature again in the latest instance, which saw the first abandoned Test of the 21st century. It would have been the first-ever Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand, but rain had the final say.
Afghanistan were hosting the Kiwis on their adopted home ground in Greater Noida, India. Greater Noida received significant rain in the lead-up to the match, leaving damp patches on the outfield.
There was no rain on the first 2 days, but wet patches on the ground didn’t allow the game to take off. For the next 3 days, rain made a comeback on the ground, leaving no chance for any action.
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