First ODI abandoned at Headingley

Eurosport - Fri, 22 May 09:15:00 2009

The first one-day international between England and West Indies was abandoned due to a wet outfield following early rain at Headingley.

CRICKET Steve Davis Headingley England West Indies - 0

Gloomy conditions and heavy rain in the morning ensured a delayed start to the match in Leeds, with the umpires Nigel Llong and Steve Davis (pictured) eventually abandoning play at 15:10 UK time.

Over the course of numerous inspections throughout the day, the umpires had cited the drenched outfield as representing the major problem.

Spectators remained in good numbers until the final announcement, enjoying sunny conditions overhead to compound their frustration.

The final time at which play could have started was 16:32, but the pitch was deemed unplayable prior to the official cut-off point.

Headingley had invested heavily in a new drainage system over the close season, and the poor conditions represented a stern test of the improved facility - which it ultimately failed.

The final stage of the expensive procedure involved a complete relaying of a new outfield, and was eventually finished in early April.

Extensive use of Blotter machines - designed to soak up puddles - could not get the outfield in a suitable state to allow any play.

The spectators will receive full compensation for their tickets, but it was the waiting time in the ground which left many frustrated with the communication.

With the weather the way it was, with broad sunshine having followed the early showers, a round of boos met the final decision which was made over the Tannoy.

Members of the England squad made their way on to the ground in a vain attempt to placate the disgruntled public, signing autographs and engaging in conversation.

The three-match one-day series is scheduled to take in matches in Bristol on May 24 and Birmingham on May 26.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

Comment 4 - 23 of 23

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  1. ed read the bottom line of my comment that says it­ all.
    comment 23 i have informed Headingley to get first­ hand knowledge from the Lord so in future they can test­ the drainage the week before a fixture to test the­ drainage.
    You cricket followers are unbeleivable - IT­ RAINS.

    From Dave H, on Fri 22 May 8:06AM

  2. Amazing £600,000 paid by Yorkshire CC on new ground­ improvements at Headingly, and nobody thought of­ testing it BEFORE the fateful day?!

    From jongros, on Fri 22 May 5:17AM

  3. May be England for that matter of rain needs to look­ east or west where it doesn't rain in month of May­ so that they can play cricket.... and I am looking at­ signs where England cricket is sliding because public­ are deprived of free cricket.... How come ECB ignore­ this sign? Don't they See AIG, LEH Bear Strean­ collapsing infront of their eyes... To me same fate is­ in store for ECB.

    From friend, on Thu 21 May 10:04PM

  4. Why when the drainage is not finished, as clearly­ stated on sky and to the paying public in the ground­ was this game ever scheduled to be played at yorkshire.­ This is may in england its going to rain!!
    There are­ plenty of other grounds that would have loved the­ opportunity to host a ODI.
    the decision not to play­ should have been made sooner as it was quite clear that­ the outfield was unfit to play, and never going to be­ fit to play today,
    was the ECb tryimg to recoperate­ some of the cost of this by letting the general public­ sit around drinking and eating ( at inflated prices)­ watching the blotter work.

    From Cat T, on Thu 21 May 9:56PM

  5. Item 21 top class pitches in the West indies ?? are u­ sure i think not !!

    From DAZZER, on Thu 21 May 5:06PM

  6. Dave H do you how big a cricket pitch is ?

    From ed, on Thu 21 May 5:02PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    it is insulting for the visitors that ecb could only­ afford poor pitches for the visiting WI but when in the­ westindies you are given top class conditions, what if­ the tables were turned around??????

    From gerard, on Thu 21 May 4:56PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    tennis adapts e.g. retractable roof, football adapts,­ rugby adapts, all other sports edge their bets and hold­ fixtures in doors are you cricketers getting the 21st­ century picture !
    if the answer is well thats just not­ cricket - then tough live with the inconveniance.

    From Dave H, on Thu 21 May 4:07PM

  9. What a frustrating day! And the administrators must­ make sure they treat the paying public better.

    From parksfields, on Thu 21 May 4:00PM

  10. I'm just down the road from Headingley, and­ it's bright and breezy.
    Bugger Devon, we could have­ played here through most of April, it's THIS month­ thats been a total shanker. And given the bloody deluge­ we had earlier, I'm surprised half of Leeds isnt­ under water. I swear I looked out of the window and­ thought "no way" when I couldnt see my car­ for the rain, which is parked about 20 feet away, there­ are still massive great puddles all over where I am, so­ any play today is going to be a miracle.
    All that­ said, it is still a complete bloody mystery WHY we have­ matches here in Spring, when it is inevitably p!ssing­ it down, or cold, or both...
    Though up 'ere­ we've given up trying to figure out what goes in­ the headsp of TPTB...

    From Bealzebozo, on Thu 21 May 3:13PM

  11. Cast as many clouts as youwant in Devon - tis a­ gorgeous day, good enough to play naked cricket as is­ the traditional way down in these parts. Nice tan. Oooo­ aaaar.
    Not too sure what to make of the Headingly­ outfieldd either .... looks like the ee-by-gummers­ forked out for the foundations of a reservoir instead­ of a drainage system.
    Ey-up!­ Wassup!
    Ee-by-gum!
    Ooo-aaar!

    From nocohere, on Thu 21 May 2:42PM

  12. 'Cast not a clout 'til May is out' goes the­ saying. With scheduling a match at this time of year in­ Yorkshire this obviously applies to leather on willow­ too.

    From markrose260, on Thu 21 May 2:09PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ou est Ian Bell? nous avez un grand sandiche au jambon.­ allez!

    From lagrenouille, on Thu 21 May 1:58PM

  14. Don't forget guys, before we had this Global­ Warming, English batsmen were scoring 1000 runs in May!­ Down here in Cornwall you could have played throughtout­ April, but we have had more rain this month, (a whole­ months worth on a bad, sad Friday); but you could be­ playing today no probs. In England the weather, at any­ time of the cricket season, has always held sway, just­ grin and bear it.

    From TONY, on Thu 21 May 1:55PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Rain doesn't stop football rugby golf etc
    The last­ 4 summer's have been terrible so why not adapt
    Put­ an astro turf mat between the wickets and enjoy the­ thrill of watching the fielder's sliding all over­ the place as they try to retrieve the ball
    Certainly­ would produce entertaining viewing

    From BRIAN, on Thu 21 May 1:49PM

  16. i think england can play cricket in dubai not in north­ england

    From Fareed B, on Thu 21 May 1:40PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    get out there a play u woosy fannys, its only a bit of­ rain on a sat we play village cricket in the rain, they­ are getting like overpaid stars like the footballers

    From Stuart, on Thu 21 May 12:33PM

  18. Yorkshire are supposed to have spent over £160,000 on­ drainage. Can they sue the contractors? What a waste of­ money!

    From soul.limbo, on Thu 21 May 12:29PM

  19. I'm up on the Yorkshire Pennines, not far from­ Leeds & it's not looking too promising -­ It's a shame our cricket venues can't be­ adapted to incorporate a retractable roof - similar to­ some of the Australian stadiums.

    From davekaye2, on Thu 21 May 12:29PM

  20. You're joking #3 - this is Yorkshire!

    From smiling.phases, on Thu 21 May 12:09PM
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