Hamilton, Dec 19: Wet ground conditions due to heavy overnight downpour forced abandonment of play on day one ofthe second and final Test between India and New Zealand here today. Not a single ball was bowled as the umpires - Asoka de Silva and Daryl Harper - who made three inspections of the ground, decided against risking the players on a waterlogged outfield and wet pitch. They called off the day`s play after making a final inspection in the afternoon.
India are trailing the two-match series 0-1 after losing the first match by 10 wickets at basin reserve, Wellington last week. An hour each would be added to next four day`s play in order to compensate for the time lost and the test will have a follow-on margin of 150 runs instead of the 200 that would have applied to a five-day match.
Though both the sides did not name their final Xi, Tinu Yohannan was likely to replace left arm Seamer Ashish Nehra in the Indian team while New Zealand were unlikely to make any changes to their side that won the first test within three days.

Bureau Report