New Zealand and Bangladesh coaches agreed that whoever wins the toss in the second and penultimate Test match is likely to benefit from a seam-friendly pitch that is only going to assist the bowlers further after torrential rain washed out the first day Friday at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
After two months of mainly settled weather in New Zealand's capital, heavy rain began falling early Friday morning ending any hope of the game beginning on time at 4am, Bangladesh standard time.
Umpires Paul Reiffel and Ruchira Palliyarugue had a pitch inspection at 8am and abandoned the day's play without a ball being bowled.
While play has been scheduled to start 30 minutes earlier Saturday to try and make up some of the overs lost Friday, rain is still forecast with showers expected for the rest of the day.
Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes said he was certain the wet weather would aid the team that won the toss.
Mahmudullah: Injuries are part of the game https://t.co/MraI9o0d1E#Bangladesh face further injury concerns to an already fragile batting line-up with #Tamim Iqbal under a cloud and #Mushfiqur Rahim unlikely to be fit for the second of the three-match #Test series in Wellington.
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) March 7, 2019
While neither team was confirmed, the weather may see New Zealand go with a four-pronged pace attack with Matt Henry replacing leg-spinner Todd Astle.
Play, however, is also likely to be disrupted Sunday as well with showers forecast and not expected to clear until the scheduled fourth day's play Monday.
Kiwis coach Gary Stead said that while the Basin Reserve wicket had proved to favour batsmen in the past, there was still the possibility of a result.
New Zealand lead the three-match series 1-0 after an innings and 52-run victory inside four days in the first match at Seddon Park in Hamilton.
The third and final test is scheduled for Christchurch's Hagley Oval from March 16-20.