Washout at Lord's as persistent rain rules out whole day's play

Supporters remained optimistic, even after the first two sessions were both lost to rain, before umpires officially called a halt to proceedings at 4:49pm following the final pitch inspection.

Sachin Tendulkar was due to ring the famous five-minute bell before the beginning of play and 20-year old Surrey batsman Ollie Pope was set to make his England debut, were it not for the gloomy weather that engulfed London after weeks of blisteringly hot conditions in the English capital.

England and India were yet to announce their starting teams for the match, as Chris Woakes or Moeen Ali were in line to replace the absent Ben Stokes for England, while the tourists were predicted to make changes after losing out in the first Test thriller at Edgbaston.

It will now be a four-day Test match, given that the rain subsides going into tomorrow, and weather forecasts indicate that conditions should improve going into day two.