No balls bowled as rain washes out last day of County Championship match between Essex and Warwickshire at Edgbaston. This monsoon ensured Essex’s remaining survival from the drop. Three of the four days were washed out by atrocious weather. Instead, the contest fizzled to a depressing tie, condemning Warwickshire’s home season to the scrapheap and their combatants to feelings of rejection.
The facts were grim at Edgbaston—the weather was uncontrollably wet and miserable. High winds conditions forced cancellation of play on the first day. By the third day, hope of play was canceled by rain as well. On the fourth morning, an unceasing drizzle through the night rendered the pitch unplayable. As a result, neither team was able to gain much ground, causing a deadlock that would prove to be in favor of Essex.
Though the conditions weren’t ideal, Essex still scored 10 points from the tie. This result was especially noteworthy. This translated into a much richer points return than the drawn match in 1895, when there were no victors emerging from the match and both sides exited the ground with nothing in their pockets. In 1895, an incredible total of 21 players made their international championship debuts in the course of the match. It is clear that neither Warwickshire or Essex achieved the full range of possible points.
That draw guaranteed Essex’s place in the Championship. That dramatic conclusion required a pretty remarkable combination of results and earned bonus points to even keep them out of relegation, but they did it. Worse still, Worcestershire’s position in the relegation battle increases the urgency. As for what to expect, things are a bit dire for both teams, as this last match is perhaps their only hope of safety.
As Warwickshire’s home season came to a close, so the heavens opened. Players and fans were crushed, swept up in the disappointment of the opportunity lost to compete. Yet the weather, which not only ruined play but clouded what should have been a joyous end to their campaign.
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