No play was possible on day 1 of the second Ashes test at Lords’ as the weather forecasters’ grim predictions were proved correct.
After persistent rain all morning there appeared to be a glimmer of hope in the early afternoon as the rain stopped, overhead conditions improved and the covers came off. But no sooner had the umpires set times for the toss and a start the rain returned, this time to curtail any chance of play.
So we will have to wait until tomorrow to find out whether Somerset’s Jack Leach will play and if he does who England will leave out. Leach’s chances seemed to improve from what we saw of the pitch which looked drier and less green than expected.
There is a but though. If overhead conditions remain seamer friendly and with the shortening of the game to four days reducing the time for the pitch to wear England may opt to omit Leach and play an all seam attack.
If England don’t need Leach he will be welcome with open arms by his Somerset colleagues as they head to Birmingham for Sunday’s resumption of the championship.
