List Of Test Matches Abandoned Without A Ball Being Bowled

Afghanistan's one-off Test vs NZ was called off (x.com)Afghanistan's one-off Test vs NZ was called off (x.com)

An entire Test match to be called off without a ball being bowled is an extremely rare occurrence. Ever since the inception of Test cricket in 1877, there have been only eight instances of a match being abandoned due to deteriorating or unfavorable weather conditions.

After Afghanistan’s planned one-off affair against New Zealand became the latest entrant in an undesired list of abandoned Test matches (outside wars or COVID pandemic), here at OneCricket, we take a look back at history to revisit each of those unfortunate events.

1. England vs Australia, Old Trafford 1890

The third Test of England’s three-match home series against Australia in 1890 at Old Trafford was called off without a toss. Back when Test cricket used to be just three days long, it rained throughout the allocated time period at the venue to bring a damp end to a thrilling series. Under the leadership of W.G. Grace, hosts England had won the first two Tests by close margins to seal their eighth Ashes series in a row.

2. England vs Australia, Old Trafford 1938

Nearly 48 years later at the same Manchester-based venue, age-old rivals England and Australia once again found themselves deadlocked in a rain-marred match, this time during the third planned Test of the 1938 Ashes in Old Trafford. With rains on all four days, officials called off play without a toss as the scoreline remained 0-0 by the end of the first three Tests. Australia and England both won a match each thereafter to level the five-Test series 1-1.

3. Australia vs England, MCG 1970

With Tests now being five-day affairs, England toured Australia for a seven-match Ashes series in late-1970, later revamped to six matches due to the rain-marred third game at the MCG between December 31, 1970 and January 5, 1971. With officials calling off play, the damp-squib affair also prompted cricket administrators of both countries to birth cricket’s first-ever ODI match on the scheduled fifth day of the abandoned Test.

4. New Zealand vs Pakistan, Dunedin 1989

Pakistan’s early 1989 trip to New Zealand commenced on a wet note as the first Test of their three-match series was cancelled by Day 3 due to ceaseless rains at Dunedin’s Carisbrook. The match marked the first-ever Test not involving Australia and England to be entirely abandoned. The New Zealand and Pakistan cricket boards subsequently organized an ODI match on the planned fourth day instead, which the hosts aced by an eight-wicket margin.

5. West Indies vs England, Georgetown 1990

After England won the first Test of their five-match away series against West Indies in February 1990, both teams travelled to Guyana for the second Test. However, with no play possible on each of the first three designated days, officials called off the match without a toss and organized an ODI on Day 5 instead.

6. Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, Faisalabad 1998

Zimbabwe stunned Pakistan in Peshawar in their 1998 series opener, and drew in Lahore next-up to travel to Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium for the decider with a 1-0 lead in the pocket. The match, however, was marred by heavy fog on each of the first four days. While conditions had improved by the second half of Day 4, officials had already called off play without a toss, thus handing Zimbabwe a rare series win in Pakistan.

7. New Zealand vs India, Dunedin 1998

The first Test from India’s three-match tour of New Zealand in late-1998 was abandoned on the same day as Pakistan’s home series decider against Zimbabwe at Faisalabad. While fog thwarted play in Pakistan, it was rains that played spoilsport at the Carisbrook in Dunedin. The three-match series was reduced to a two-match affair, which hosts New Zealand sealed by a 1-0 margin with a win and a draw in the next two Tests.

8. Afghanistan vs New Zealand, Greater Noida 2024

For the first time in nearly 26 years and the first time in the 21st century, a Test match was entirely called off without a toss when Afghanistan ‘hosted’ New Zealand at the Greater Noida Complex Ground in India. The match evidently marked a historic occasion for Afghanistan cricket, as they were geared up to face New Zealand for the first time since gaining Test status. However, no play was possible on each of the five planned days of their one-off fixture from September 2024.