Soft-outfield fiasco prevents play again

By Monday, when there was no cricket played again, eight of 12 sessions in the Kingsmead Test had been lost to rain and an outfield that had become quite soft underfoot. Conditions should brighten up for the final day of the first Test between South Africa and New Zealand, but considering the match is barely into its second innings, the likelihood of a result appears quite bleak.

There has been no rain over the past 48 hours. But the damage caused by a substantial downpour after the second day's play when a recently relaid outfield took on 65 mm of water could not be overcome. Considering it was winter in Durban, the prospect of the outfield drying out under the sun was also relatively low.

The existing facilities at Kingsmead allow only the square to be covered in case of rain. When the umpires inspected the ground prior to the start of play - 10 am - on Monday, they found patches of the unprotected outfield still gave way to pressure sparking concern for the safety of the players.

A second inspection was scheduled for 12 pm, the only outcome of which was the time of the next inspection at 2pm. The match officials conferred together again and called play off at 2.18 pm.

Two days ago, when last there was cricket at Kingsmead, New Zealand were 15 for 2, with Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor at the crease, trailing South Africa's 263 by 248 runs.