BENONI, South Africa (AFP) — India’s two-day warm-up match ahead of the first Test against South Africa was called off yesterday without a ball bowled.

The first day against a South African Invitation XI at Willowmoore Park was abandoned early yesterday because of rain and a wet outfield.

It was decided later to abandon the match altogether when the ground staff said they would be unable to get the ground ready for play on the scheduled second day on Saturday.

jam.live.mediaspanonline.com/admin_code/AssetEditor.aspx?AssetID=10284255#

The ground was saturated after more than 800mm of rain fell in the past three weeks.

The tourists were able to get in some preparation, however, because the pitch area was dry enough for them to hold a middle practice.

The first of two Test matches starts at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

With the tour having been shortened after the Indian board refused to accept the itinerary announced by South Africa, the two-day match was the only fixture scheduled between a three-match one-day series and the Tests.

India’s batsmen are desperately short of match practice in South African conditions.

India were beaten in the first two one-day games and were bowled out for 217 and 146, with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni the only man to hit a half-century.

A thunderstorm prevented India from batting in the third and final one-day international.

The Invitation XI match was originally due to start today but it was brought forward by a day to avoid a clash with the funeral of former South African president Nelson Mandela tomorrow.