Unexpected and unseasonal overnight rain on an inadequately coveredpitch, together with a brief drizzle at lunchtime and a very lightScotch mist at times during the day, caused the second day’s play inthe match between the touring Indians and

John Ward29-May-2001Unexpected and unseasonal overnight rain on an inadequately coveredpitch, together with a brief drizzle at lunchtime and a very lightScotch mist at times during the day, caused the second day’s play inthe match between the touring Indians and Zimbabwe A at the MutareSports Club to be abandoned without a ball bowled.The day’s play was a victim to Mutare’s unreliable weather, but it wasalso disappointing to see the sort of attitude that brings cricketinto disrepute. This was the first match to be played at Mutareagainst a full international team. There were hundreds ofschoolchildren present. But with the outfield and pitch a little damp- the qualities of the latter untested – the players were unwilling togive it a try and the umpires were not prepared to make them.With a little more willingness on their part there could have beenperhaps half a day’s play, although not in ideal conditions. But asseems to be usual, professional players are not prepared to make thebest of a bad job. This is the sort of situation that does thereputation of the game no credit whatsoever. Javagal Srinath, however,did his best for the game by joining in an impromptu game with a groupof children in the outfield.At stumps on the opening day on Monday, Zimbabwe A were 33 for one inreply to the Indians’ first innings total of 336 for nine declared.