Awful 26-year first sours historic Test match

A Test match between New Zealand and Afghanistan at Greater Noida, India has joined some select company in the history of cricket — just not for the best reason.
After continuing rain, officials called off the Test match on the fifth and final scheduled day on Friday without a ball being bowled.
It marked only the eighth time that a Test match had been abandoned without any play because of rain. The first was in 1890 and the most-recent nearly 26 years ago also involved New Zealand.
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On December 18, 1998, New Zealand’s home test against India was abandoned on day three because of persistent rain at Carisbrook Oval in Dunedin.
Daryl Mitchell during preparation for the Test against Afghanistan.  AP
The Greater Noida region received more than a week of drenching rain, leaving the ground staff at Greater Noida Sports Complex struggling to get the ground fit for play.
It was Afghanistan’s third cricket Test in 2024, following one-off matches against Ireland and a 10-wicket loss to Sri Lanka.
The team will play three one-day internationals against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates beginning September 18.
New Zealand next plays a two-Test series in Sri Lanka, also starting September 18, before returning to India for a three-Test series against India in October.