The international summer came to a farcical end in Bristol as England’s final outing against Ireland was washed out by barely 40 minutes of afternoon rain.
Ben Duckett had just registered his maiden ODI century – a blistering 107 not out from 78 balls – in what was a rapid-fire start for England. The hosts were even tracking for a possible tilt at their own world record total, reaching 280 for four from 31 overs.
But at 2.48pm in this day-night affair, immediately after the loss of Sam Hain for 17, the rain began to fall. Umpires Mike Burns and Paul Reiffel paused for a few moments and called drinks, despite Gloucestershire’s ground staff sitting poised on the boundary.
By the time the ground staff were finally called on minutes later it was rodding down. Then came a battle to get the club’s slightly rudimentary covers fully across the square and the bowlers’ run-ups, with gusty winds only compounding their struggle.
The upshot was a sodden outfield and the match being abandoned at 3.21pm, just 33 minutes after it started raining. It stopped moments later – followed by periods of sunshine – but a 1-0 series victory for England had already been confirmed.
More than 30 overs meant no refunds for the spectators, unlike those who saw no cricket at Headingley last week. Instead, they were no doubt left questioning the sanity of playing this late in the year. Then again, this was the fourth successive men’s ODI to be abandoned on this ground, including two during the 2019 World Cup.
Gloucestershire’s chief executive, Will Brown, blamed heavy overnight rain that meant the water table was already high. The prompt 12.30pm start was considered a good result, even if there were fears another burst could prove ruinous. Those covers – on wheels with separate tarpaulins, rather than the more swiftly deployed hover-covers at most major English grounds – will surely need upgrading.
England had been firing up to this point, Phil Salt and Will Jacks crashing 87 for the first wicket from just 42 balls. After 25 overs this quasi-Lions side was 227 for three, England’s highest tally at this stage of an ODI and 53 runs more than at the same point during their world record 498 for four in the Netherlands last year.
Salt was so destructive for his 28-ball 61, raiding seven fours and four sixes, and Jacks not too shabby for his 39 from 21 after what proved a series-sealing 94 in Saturday’s win at Trent Bridge. Craig Young was the standout seamer in a chastening outing for Ireland’s bowlers, picking up three wickets including a beauty to bowl Jacks.
But Duckett topped the lot, sweeping with precision, clearing the rope twice and putting on 101 with his captain, Zak Crawley (51 from 42). England perhaps did not have the depth to set a new benchmark in the format, not least on a two-pace surface, but with Duckett still there and positively glowing in form, it would have been fun to find out.
As it was, disappointment followed with both Crawley and his opposite number, Paul Stirling, admitting they had never before experienced such a rapid abandonment. Bristol’s next men’s international? An ODI between England and Australia scheduled to take place on 29 September 2024, three days later in the year.
