[Watch] Ground workers dig up outfield to fix wet patch in Greater Noida for AFG vs NZ test

More than a day and a half of the AFG vs NZ test has been lost due to wet outfield.

No rain, clear skies, the sun beating down, and the players ready. Yet, no play was possible on day 1 of the AFG vs NZ test at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground. Then, more than half of day 2 is also set to be lost. This is all because of the wet outfield caused by the rain on the last two nights.

The sub-par drainage system at the venue in Noida, which is test cricket’s 124th venue, meant that more than a day and a half of the one-off test between New Zealand and Afghanistan was lost.

There were bizarre and perhaps unprecedented scenes on day 2 morning when the ground staff decided to dig up the outfield to fix a wet patch.

On day 1, umpire Kumar Dharmasena had said that there were “five to six patches” that caused the delay in the start of play. One of those patches is near the bowlers’ run-up and others are around the 30-yard circle.

The umpires couldn’t start play in such conditions where the safety of players is at risk. Already Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran sustained a heel injury when he slipped while fielding a day before the match and has been ruled out of the AFG vs NZ test and the following ODI series against South Africa.

AFG vs NZ test: Groundstaff in Noida dig up the ground to fix a wet patch

Reporters present at the venue have been tweeting pictures and videos of the activity going on in the ground by the staff. Daya Sagar of ESPNcricinfo posted a video in which the ground staff removed one of the wet patches and are trying to fill it up with dry grass and soil.

Watch it here:

Not a good morning from Greater Noida! They have dug a part of the midwicket area and are trying to fix it with some dry patches of grass and soil. Something new I have seen in cricket.#AFGvNZ pic.twitter.com/46ZwYZoqmQ

— Daya sagar (@sagarqinare) September 10, 2024

Further, in desperate measures to dry up the wet patches, the staff also used fans.

Now, they are bringing dry grass patches to fill the dug area and on the other side they have brought fans to dry the damp patches. Teams are still in the hotel. 12pm is inspection time!#NZvAFG https://t.co/h201nuzRTQ pic.twitter.com/oMLl5eByuK

— Daya sagar (@sagarqinare) September 10, 2024

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