5 Test matches abandoned without a ball being bowled

The only Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand has seen the first three days of the game getting rained off. With the weather set to play a spoiler during the final two days of the game, there is a good chance that there may not be any play taking place. 

If the game is abandoned without a single delivery being bowled, this will be the 8th such occasion that such an incident will take place. The first-ever long format between Afghanistan and New Zealand will enter the record books for all the wrong reasons. 

The first ever instances of such a result taking place happened during the 1890 and 1938 Ashes series. Incidentally, it was Manchester that was the venue where both the Tests between England and Australia were abandoned without a ball being bowled. 

Also Read: Why Day 3 of AFG vs NZ only-test called off even before 9:30 AM?

Here are the top five Test matches that were abandoned without a ball being bowled 

5- Ashes 1970 – Melbourne 

The third Test match of the 1970 Ashes series was set to be played in Melbourne. The third Test match of the series was set to start on the 31st of December 1970 and the final day was to be played on the 5th of January. Massive rains and a deluge meant that no play was possible on each of the five days. This was the third time a Test match was abandoned without a ball being bowled. England went on to win the series with a 2-0 margin as they won both the Test matches in Sydney. 

4- Pakistan tour of New Zealand -1989- Dunedin

The first Test match during the Pakistan tour of New Zealand was to be held in Carisbrook ground in Dunedin. Constant downpour meant that the game wasn’t played without even taking place. To compensate for the same, both the home team and the visiting side agreed to play an ODI which was won by New Zealand. The 2nd Test ended in a high-scoring draw while the third Test also ended in a stalemate with Javed Miandad scoring 271. 

3- England tour of West Indies -1990- Guyana

The visiting English side had shocked the cricketing world as they beat the fancied and dangerous West Indies by 9 wickets in the 1st Test match. After the dramatic game in Jamaica, the two teams moved to Guyana for the 2nd Test. Weather gods though had other plans as not a single ball was bowled in the game. The match was abandoned with the third Test match in Trinidad ending in a draw. West Indies won the next two Test matches to take the series with a 2-1 margin. 

2- Zimbabwe tour of Pakistan -1998- Faisalabad 

The Zimbabwean team had visited Pakistan for a series of 3 ODI and 3 Test matches. Pakistan had won the ODI series with a 2-1 margin. Zimbabwe shocked the world when they beat Pakistan in the 1st Test by 7 wickets which was played in Peshawar. The 2nd Test match in Lahore ended in a draw due to inclement weather. The final game of the series moved to Faisalabad and the bad weather meant that the Test was abandoned without a ball bowled. Zimbabwe won the Test series with a 1-0 margin to end the tour on a high. 

1- India tour of New Zealand – 1998 – Dunedin 

Mohammad Azharuddin and his Indian team had toured New Zealand towards the end of 1998. The visitors began the tour with a loss to Central Districts before beating Wellington in their next game. The first Test was to be played at the Carisbrook Stadium in Dunedin. Just like 9 years ago, the game was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to heavy rain. New Zealand and India played a friendly ODI game which the home team won by 66. The Kiwis won the next Test in Wellington by 4 wickets with the final ending in a draw. In the five-match series that followed, New Zealand won the series with a 3-1 margin.