Big Bash League 2023-24
BBL 2023: REN vs SCO stopped due to damp pitch, has it happened before?
There have been quite a few instances of matches being abandoned due to dangerous pitch.
The fourth game of the ongoing Men’s BBL 2023-24 between Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers has been abandoned due to poor pitch. A day before the game (December 9), it rained almost all day in Geelong. The same venue (GMHBA Stadium, South Geelong, Victoria) hosted a four-day game between touring Pakistanis and Cricket Australia PM XI. The last day of the game was washed out due to rain.
Due to the same, there were concerns about the match between former champions, Renegades (2018-19), and holders, Scorchers. While there was no rain around the game. However, after the Red Army won the toss and bowled first and bowled only 6.5 overs, players started expressing concerns over the bounce on the wicket. After a close look and speaking to both captains, the game was abandoned.
Meanwhile, this is not the only instance when a match was abandoned due to poor pitch. In this listicle, we will discuss three games abandoned due to bad wickets.
Three instances when a match stopped due to poor pitch
West Indies vs England 1998
1. West Indies vs England 1998
In England’s tour of the West Indies in 1998, the series started with the six-match Test series. In the first played (or rather abandoned on the first day), the Three Lions won the toss and elected to bat first. After players got hit multiple times, the umpires decided to abandon the game with 17 runs on the board and three wickets lost in 10.1 overs.
2. India vs Sri Lanka 1997
A few weeks before the Jamaica farce, India and Sri Lanka were playing a Christman ODI in Indore. However, with three overs in and 17/1 on the board, the game was abandoned due to a dangerous pitch. Even though both teams played a 25-over exhibition game on an adjoining strip, it didn’t match the intensity of an international match.
India vs Sri Lanka 2009
3. India vs Sri Lanka in 2009
In the fifth and last game of the ODI series between both teams, the home team, India won the toss and elected to bowl first in Delhi. After 23.3 overs and 83/5 on the board, the game was abandoned. Also, not to forget, the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan got hurt during the only innings that was played during the game. After the game was abandoned, the fans demanded the payback of the tickets.
