Unexpected and unseasonal overnight rain on an inadequately covered pitch, together with a brief drizzle at lunchtime and a very light Scotch mist at times during the day, caused the second day's play in the match between the touring Indians and Zimbabwe A at the Mutare Sports Club to be abandoned without a ball bowled.

The day's play was a victim to Mutare's unreliable weather, but it was also disappointing to see the sort of attitude that brings cricket into disrepute. This was the first match to be played at Mutare against a full international team. There were hundreds of schoolchildren present. But with the outfield and pitch a little damp - the qualities of the latter untested - the players were unwilling to give it a try and the umpires were not prepared to make them.

With a little more willingness on their part there could have been perhaps half a day's play, although not in ideal conditions. But as seems to be usual, professional players are not prepared to make the best of a bad job. This is the sort of situation that does the reputation of the game no credit whatsoever. Javagal Srinath, however, did his best for the game by joining in an impromptu game with a group of children in the outfield.

At stumps on the opening day on Monday, Zimbabwe A were 33 for one in reply to the Indians' first innings total of 336 for nine declared.

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