J
oe Root ’s plan for an additional pre-World Cup hit out was scuppered after the First ODI towards Ireland was deserted with no ball being bowled.
Morning rain at Headingley pressured a delayed begin to the collection opener and whereas the drizzle had largely stopped by early afternoon, the match umpires remained involved by soggy patches on the bowler’s run-up on the Pavilion End throughout a collection of inspections.
Play was ultimately known as off shortly earlier than 5pm, regardless of a number of hours of dry climate, to the dismay of the Headingley crowd, who greeted the choice with boos.
England have chosen a second-string squad for the three-match collection, with nearly all of these named in a 15-man World Cup squad resting earlier than they fly to India for that event subsequent week.
The exception had been Root, who was added to the squad for this match at his personal request as he searches for kind following a scratchy run within the current ODI collection towards New Zealand. Despite the washout, it’s understood Root is unlikely to play in both of the 2 remaining video games, at Trent Bridge on Saturday after which in Bristol subsequent week.
The match was additionally because of be Zak Crawley ’s first as an England captain, the Test opener having been handed the honour of main the aspect in Buttler’s absence.
“I was pretty hopeful to be honest, I saw the forecast earlier this morning and thought it would stop raining earlier than it did,” Crawley mentioned. “So I was very disappointed that we didn’t get a game on.
“It was just the run-up this end, really. It wasn’t fit for play and I think that was probably right in the end. It was very wet and would have churned up if we’d played on it. It wouldn’t have been fit for the bowlers. It’s disappointing.”
While the rain in Leeds had been persistent, there have been solely temporary intervals by which it got here down closely and questions will likely be requested over how a run-up space that had been underneath covers obtained moist sufficient to power an abandonment.
“I’m not sure what happened there, because it was covered up, the bit that was wet,” Crawley added. “This time of year it doesn’t dry as well as at other times of the year.
“We were unlucky with the weather leading into the game and then rain all this morning as well. I’m not sure there’s anymore the groundsmen could have done, they worked very hard to try and get the game on.”
