Edgbaston wash-out halts England charge
Rain at Edgbaston prevented any play at all on Saturday
Also In The News
|
By Adam Leveridge
Michael Schumacher has succesfully completed his test at the Mugello circuit in Italy. |  |
Saturday, 01, Aug 2009 02:52
England's hopes of securing a crucial victory in the third Test of the Ashes series are dwindling because of a washed out third day at Edgbaston.
All sessions in Birmingham have been declared complete write-offs because of heavy overnight and early-morning rainfall in the area that was keeping the outfield damp and slippery.
On-off showers throughout the rest of the day meant no play was possible in the early afternoon and the amount of standing water across the ground forced umpires Rudi Koertzen and Aleem Dar to call off all prospects of play without a ball being bowled before 15:00 BST - more than four hours before the scheduled end.
The news means England were unable to captalise on a successful day on Friday, which saw the home side's attack force an Australian collapse as the tourists were reduced from 126-1 overnight to 263 all out just after lunch.
If and when play resumes on Sunday, England captain Andrew Strauss (64 not out) will continue alongside number four Ian Bell (26 not out).
Alistair Potter