Sheffield Shield 2021-22: First day's play of match between Queensland and South Australia abandoned due to floods

The first day’s play of a 2021-22 Sheffield Shield match between Queensland and South Australia to be played at The Gabba, Brisbane has been abandoned due to the floods. The contest was scheduled to begin on March 1. However due to floods, Cricket Australia, Queensland Cricket and Stadiums Queensland unanimously decided that play on the first day would not be possible.

The match will now be a three-day affair starting on March 2 with extra hours to be given for remaining days of the match. While Queensland are sitting comfortably top of the table with two wins and an equal number of losses in seven games they have played, South Australia are languishing at the bottom of the table.

“Considering the amount of rain that has fallen, Dave (Sandurski, Gabba curator) and his team have done amazing things to have a venue potentially ready to play,” Queensland Cricket chief executive Terry Svenson was quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.

Both sides will be missing some key players

As Australia is on their tour of Pakistan for the first time in this decade, several prominent players of both domestic sides will be missing. While table-toppers Queensland will be without the services of Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Mark Steketee, South Australia will be missing their star batters Travis Head and Alex Carey. Right-handed batter Henry Hunt is expected to lead South Australia in the absence of their permanent skipper Head.

The final round of 2021-22 Sheffield Shield is slated to start from March 1 and will finish on April 3. Queensland (23 points) are currently ranked first in the points table. There’s a close contest among top four teams including Western Australia (22 points), Tasmania (21 points) and Victoria (21 points) to book their spot for the final match.

Meanwhile, Australia will take on home-side Pakistan in a three-match Test series to begin from March 4 in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Three ODIs and a T20I will also be played between the two nations after the Test series is concluded.