Andy Jalil reporting from Edgebaston - In association with Investec © Pakistan Cricket Website

Two days washed out in Third Test.

In association with Investec.

As with the previous day, play was abandoned on the second day as well without a ball being bowled in the third Investec Test. With relentless rain and a saturated ground, the umpires took the unusual step of announcing as early as 1.45 pm that there will be no play. The ground condition was such that the umpires thought it unnecessary to even carry out a formal pitch inspection as is customary before abandoning play. It is thought that near enough £1 million will be refunded to approximately 30,000 spectators over the two days. The amount is covered by the England Cricket Board’s insurance policy.

The last time a full day's play was ruled out in a Test match in this country was in 2009, also on this ground, on the third day of an Ashes Test. It is 25 years since two full days play has been lost and that was at Lord's against Pakistan. With weather forecast being slightly better for the third day there is hope of some play taking place.

However, it's interesting to note that it is 58 years since the last time the first three days play were called off for the weather and that too was at Lord’s against Pakistan on their maiden tour of England. It was regarded as a great achievement for the minnows of Test cricket to draw that series after winning the final Test at The Oval by 24 runs. Their legendary pace bowler Fazal Mahmood played the major role claiming six wickets in each innings for a total of just 99 runs. The feat remains in the folklore of Pakistan cricket.

With much time lost, it is most likely that this Test match will be drawn. England have suffered eight defeats in 46 Tests on this ground.

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2012 Andy Jalil)