Old Trafford was unfit - Collingwood - Sport in brief

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Umpires Nigel Llong and Peter Hartley disappointed the 19,500 capacity crowd, as well as Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes, when they declared the second match of the series a washout at 8pm.

"I absolutely sympathise with the fans who turned up. Obviously there was another full house and people wanted to watch at home," Collingwood said.

"The umpires came up to us and said they think it's unfit for international cricket. When you've got a lot of people in the crowd, it's a brave call to make but it's good that they are making those calls."

That decision was made after a second inspection of the bowlers' run-ups, which were ultimately deemed unplayable, but with Sunday's Twenty20 in Manchester also falling victim to the weather, the announcement was greeted unhappily by the crowd.

Nevertheless, Collingwood defended the decision, praising a "brave" call by the umpires.

He added: "I spoke to Michael and both of us said if you're asking your boys to run in 100% then it is going to be pretty dangerous. That's why the umpires made that decision."

Clarke brushed aside suggestions that the game could have gone ahead in altered conditions - with bowlers all bowling from one end one of the suggestions.

He said: "There's no game I play for Australia where you go out and bowl some full tosses so the crowd get a great spectacle.

"The ground just wasn't fit enough to play and both teams are disappointed. We've got specialist Twenty20 players who have flown over from Australia to take part in these two games so we really wanted to play."