Rain Strikes Again

A full house at Old Trafford was left bitterly disappointed this evening as the Manchester rain rendered the pitch for the second T20I against Australia unplayable. The downpour had subsided a while before the announcement was made, but the faces of the umpires and captains, who examined the offending area - a small but significant part of the bowlers' run-up - between 7:30 and 8:00 pm, told all in this tale of frustration.

It's the most galling pitch controversy to shackle England since the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium debacle in February, and divided opinion amongst the experts. In the Sky studio, David Lloyd agreed that the umpires had no other option, but Nick Knight felt that a format which values entertainment above all else, should take the necessary risks.

Jim Cumbes, the Lancashire Chief Executive, put a new spin on things when he claimed in a Sky interview that he felt the pitch was playable. Clearly the incident is a PR blow to Lancashire CC.

Confusion reigned, points of view differed, a sense that the fans' were let down prevailed.