Cricket fans shelter from the rain during the third day of the second Test cricket match between England and West Indies at Headingley in Leeds, northern England yesterday. - ReutersLEEDS, England (CMC)
West Indies had plenty of time for introspection and discussion, when the third day of the second Test against England was abandoned without a ball being bowled yesterday at Headingley.
West Indies, following on 424 runs behind on first innings, were to continue from their bedtime total of 22 for two, after they were dismissed for a modest 146 in their first innings.
There was a glimmer of hope for play, when the covers were removed, following an earlier than scheduled lunch interval, and the players began warming up, but this was only short-lived and the rain returned.
Washout
The washout means that the England and Wales Cricket Board will have to refund 450,000 pounds sterling to the spectators who were due to attend the sold-out match.
The weather forecast for today is not encouraging either with cloudy skies and more rain expected, but if things continue, West Indies will have a huge challenge trying to save the match, following England's dominance on the first two days.
Ramnaresh Sarwan's worst nightmare came true on Saturday, when West Indies' terminal decline overshadowed Kevin Pietersen's maiden Test double-hundred and Ryan Sidebottom's quality swing bowling which put England in firm control.
Prior to the match, Sarwan, the West Indies captain, emphasised that he wanted to build on the momentum the side had gained from making 437 in the first innings of the drawn first Test at Lord's - with the caveat that 'we don't want to score 160 now'.
Not fortunate enough
West Indies were not fortunate enough to make that many replying to England's first innings total of 570 for seven declared, as they were dismissed about an hour-and-a-half after tea on the second day.
West Indies were undermined by Sidebottom, a left-arm fast-medium bowler, playing in only his second Test after spending six years in the cricket wilderness. He collected four wickets for 42 runs from 12 overs, and added two more when West Indies started the follow-on.
The rain-affected first Test at Lord's ended in a draw last Monday.
