Rain, wet field force abandonment of India's first day play vs Australia's Prime Minister's XI

Canberra: Just three days ago, Canberra residents were desperately looking for some relief from the heat wave sweeping across southeast Australia. On Saturday, they perhaps got more than they had bargained for.

While soaring temperatures had forced people here to store sunscreen and hats to protect themselves from a potential heat stroke, on Saturday, the opening day of the two-day practice match between India and Australian Prime Minister's XI, they were dusting off their umbrellas and pulling out raincoats.

While there was a forecast for rain on the day, few were prepared for the kind of wet day one got to witness as light drizzle and sharp showers took turns with little respite in between. The Indian team, realising the futility of waiting for the start, left for the hotel which is of course a hop-skip-and-a-jump away from the Manuka Oval.

The match officials, meanwhile, sent out updates every hour with the same update before the play was called off at 6.30 pm after the final inspection and a brief discussion with the Indian team management. With only a day's play left, the teams have agreed to play a 50-over match.

With no let up in the rain, neither team would have come to the ground but the pre-decided meeting with Aussie PM Anthony Albanese compelled them to be at the venue. Albanese caught up with members of both teams while he handed out caps to PM XI's players. He also held a brief chat with senior Indian team members -- including Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma -- before posing for a group photograph.

Scott Boland, who is part of PM's XI and who is set to play the Adelaide Test after an injury to Josh Hazlewood, was looking to get some vital practice ahead of the pink-ball Test but was left hoping for a few overs under his belt on Sunday.

"It will be valuable (to get some play here). In our last net session in Perth, me and Josh Inglis, we played with the pink ball for quite a few overs. So getting in those overs and then obviously the overs we can get in probably tomorrow (Sunday) by the look of this weather, will be valuable as well. We will see how this game pans out and then we'll just play however the weather goes for the next couple of days and then Adelaide on Monday, just normal prep before a game. So we will have a good bowl two days before the game and then prepare to play (the Test)," he remarked.