PITCH REPORT – Murali Kartik is joined by Athar Ali Khan near the deck. Kartik says there was dampness in the pitch yesterday with the pitch being under covers but with the sun baking the surface it shouldn’t be an issue. Athar says the pitch is drier and still good for batting. Suggests that the first session will favour the bowlers but eventually will stay good for batting.
UPDATE – Great news! Play set to commence at 4 am GMT. Here are the revised session timings for the day. The first session will run from 4 am GMT to 6.15 am GMT, followed by the second session, which will commence at 6.55 am GMT and continue until 9.10 am GMT. The third and final session of the day will start at 9.30 am GMT and conclude at 11.30 am GMT.
UPDATE – A pleasing sight to kick things off! It’s bright and sunny in Kanpur, and we’re hopeful for a prompt start to the day’s play. The match officials are carrying out an inspection as we speak, closely examining the areas near the fence that were a point of concern on Day 3.
The chances of a result remain slim, and with time running out, both teams will be hoping for extended spells of play to salvage whatever they can from this rain-hit Test. The conditions haven’t allowed the usual 4 am GMT start for the past two days, let alone an early start, leaving everyone hopeful for better fortunes today. Stick around as we await the start of play.
The opening day saw a delayed start, but only 35 overs were bowled before play was cut short due to bad light and subsequent rain. Day 2 was washed out entirely by persistent drizzle, and in a twist of irony, ‘Moving Day’ turned into a standstill as a wet outfield meant no play was possible on Day 3. With six sessions left, the forecast for today and tomorrow looks promising, but it all hinges on whether the outfield has recovered in time.
Hello and a warm welcome, folks! It’s Day 4 of the second Test between India and Bangladesh at Green Park in Kanpur. Normally, by Day 4, the narrative of a Test match is either nearing its conclusion, tilting toward one side, or locked in a tense battle of Even Stevens. But here in Kanpur, none of those scenarios have played out with only 35 overs of play possible so far.
… DAY 4, SESSION 1 …
Hello everyone! Welcome to our live coverage from the fourth day of the second Test between India and Bangladesh from Kanpur. We have lost over two days of play in this contest due to weather and ground conditions. By now, at least 270 overs of play should’ve been completed but only 35 overs have been bowled. There wasn’t any rain on Sunday yet not a single ball was bowled. The damp areas on the field rendered the conditions unsuitable for to resume the contest. While there’s no forecast of rain today meaning there should be some action. However, a result from here is highly unlikely. Stick with us for all the latest updates.
That said, we’ll be back for Day 4, which promises to be much better according to the forecast. While the first three days have been gloomy, the positive news is that the upcoming two days are expected to offer clearer skies, potentially allowing for a full day of play. With six sessions left and only 35 overs completed so far, it will be challenging for either team to push for a result, but certainly not impossible. We may also see early starts to the remaining days to make up for the lost time. As always, you can join us well in advance as we build up to the action on Day 4 of this second Test match. Until then, cheers and goodbye!
Unfortunately, it’s not the outcome we were hoping for, but STUMPS have been called on Day 3 as well. It’s a frustrating end to another day, marking two consecutive days lost without a single ball being bowled. Despite there being no rain since early morning, the soggy outfield from the previous day’s downpour ultimately led the umpires to deem it unsafe for the players to take the field. While the decision is undoubtedly the right call for player safety, it’s still a disappointing and disheartening blow for the fans.
UPDATE – 8.30 am GMT – Time for Round 3! Familiar scenes as the two umpires head out to the centre, and they’re greeted by a special guest. Look who’s here! The sun has finally made an appearance in Kanpur for the first time in two days. Oh dear, though! Tamim Iqbal, on air, informs us that he spoke to the manager of the Bangladesh team, who mentioned that the play has been called off for the day. However, we’re still waiting for the official word. Stay tuned!
As the minutes tick by, it’s becoming increasingly evident that Shakib Al Hasan is nearing the twilight of his remarkable Test career. With the next series against South Africa still awaiting security clearance amid the unrest in Bangladesh, this could potentially be his final match in whites. The remainder of this Test holds immense significance for him, and fans will be eager to see him take the field once more, ideally not for the last time – so he can relish every moment of his storied journey.
With this emphatic win, Sri Lanka have strengthened their chances of making their first World Test Championship final. Their point percentage now stands at 55.56, consolidating their third position in the standings. Sri Lanka will next tour South Africa for two Tests later in the year, followed by a home series against Australia in early 2025. New Zealand, on the other hand, have dropped from fourth to seventh in the table. Their next challenge will be a three-match series in India, a tough test for Tim Southee and his men after this disappointing tour.
Back to men’s cricket, down in Galle, Sri Lanka have completed a resounding victory over New Zealand, completing a clean sweep in the Test series. After being bowled out for just 88 in their first innings, it initially looked like a three-day finish was imminent, particularly given how the Kiwi batters struggled against spin. However, New Zealand displayed much better application in their second innings, managing to stretch the game into the second session today. Despite their efforts, the writing was on the wall, and Sri Lanka’s dominance ultimately shone through as they secured a convincing win by an innings and 154 runs.
While Australia and England gear up for their ODI series decider in Bristol, the women from the two nations are set to clash in one of three warm-up games scheduled for today at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Heather Knight and Co. have been in the UAE for over three weeks, preparing through a training camp ahead of the tournament. Meanwhile, Australia recently hosted New Zealand, inflicting a whitewash over their Trans-Tasman rivals in the T20I series. Speaking of New Zealand, they are set to face South Africa, while India will take on the West Indies in another warm-up match. These games will be pivotal for the teams as they look to build momentum ahead of the competition.
That wraps up another rain-affected day, with the entire Day 2 lost to the weather. The forecast for Day 3, September 29th, is far more promising, and we remain hopeful for a full day of play, giving this Test enough time for all possible outcomes. Even though today’s play has been called off, let’s hope the conditions improve in time for a full day of action on Day 3. Given that we have lost an entire day’s play, we are likely to see early starts for the remainder of the Test. You can join us well ahead of time as we build up to what could be an exciting day of Test cricket. Until then, goodbye and cheers!
Well, the inevitable news has arrived, STUMPS have been called for Day 2 without a single ball bowled. The weather forecast had hinted at heavier rain, and despite our optimism, persistent drizzle has dashed any hopes of play today. Both teams will now regroup and return on Day 3, hopefully to better conditions, with the aim of pushing for a result in the remaining days.
Hello and welcome back to Day 3 of this second Test match between India and Bangladesh, coming to you from Green Park in Kanpur. The weather hasn’t been on our side for the first two days, but we’re optimistic for a full day of play today. With time now a crucial factor for both teams, every session will be pivotal as they look to push for a result.
… DAY 3, SESSION 1 …
UPDATE – 8.16 am GMT – Not much has changed since the last update, with the drizzle continuing on and off throughout the day. Puddles have formed on the covers, which have been spread across the entire ground, and with the sun not making an appearance at all, the situation remains bleak. As optimistic as we want to be, the prospects of any play today seem slim at best. Let’s hope for a positive change, but the weather isn’t helping our cause at the moment.
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