India's superstar cricketers endured a 3,400km (2,170 miles) cross-country journey to play a World Cup warm-up only for the match to be abandoned without a ball being bowled on Tuesday. India were to face the Netherlands in Thiruvananthapuram, on the southern tip of India, but they were left kicking their heels due to torrential rain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On Saturday, their scheduled game against defending champions England up in the north-eastern city of Guwahati was also washed out.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In total, the wet weather has so far forced three warm-up matches to be abandoned while three others have been rain-affected, leaving teams and players frustrated ahead of the tournament's start on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Netherlands have also had two washouts, including Saturday's match against Australia which ended in a no result when rain ended their chase in 14.2 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
That game was also played in Thiruvananthapuram, sparing the Dutch a fruitless trip to another venue.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, the weather forecast for the rest of the week in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Dharamsala -- venues for first three days of the tournament -- is optimistic with sunshine instead of showers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England will play New Zealand in the tournament opener at the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n