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Cricket PlayersIndia vs England, 2nd Test, Day 1 at Lord’s, highlights: Rain prevents play - as it happened
As it happened: The toss was delayed due to rain as India face England in the second Test at Lord’s. The visitors trail 1-0 after they were beaten in the first encounter at Edgbaston and Virat Kohli & Co will look to produce a better show on a ground where they have won just 2 out of their last 17 Test matches. Kohli will be banking on his top-order batsmen to fire after a disappointing show in the first Test and the visitors can opt for a second spin option in Kuldeep Yadav. For England, Ollie Pope will be making his debut with Moeen Ali possibly playing alongside Adil Rashid in the spin department.
Update - Day 1 play has been called off here at @HomeOfCricket.#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/hCY5Z2dHC6
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 9, 2018
21:19 hrs IST
Play called off
Hmmm, so it had to end this way. The rain has been relentless, the umpires kept coming out, kept walking back in.
Unfortunate for the crowd which packed Lord’s, but such is the nature of the game. We can only hope for a brighter second day.
21:05 hrs IST
Frustrating times
Yes, it has been that kind of day, persistent showers, muggy conditions and the clouds hanging over Lord’s. A dampener, indeed!
20:41 hrs IST
Still drizzling
Although the groundstaff are doing their bit to mop up the water, there is this persistent drizzle which is annoying, but it is still there. Nothing can be done about it.
20:24 hrs IST
Tea time
Tea has been taken even as the umpires are monitoring the outfield. We continue to wait, but now we have something to clutch at.
20:16 hrs IST
Rain has stopped
The umpires have been spotted, conditions getting brighter, clouds are lifting.
Positive news, stick around, we might just get in a few overs today.
19:59 hrs IST
Getting brighter
A bit of positive news, it has become brighter and the groundstaff are working to get rid of the water.
However, there is no news of an immediate resumption as of now.
19:35 hrs IST
What has changed for Kohli?
The Indian captain is on a scoring spree across all conditions, across all formats. What exactly has changed?
Find out here.
19:19 hrs IST
Groundstaff on the covers
Nah, nothing to be really excited about, it is still drizzling, the earlier forecast of things clearing up by this time seems to have vanished.
19:09 hrs IST
Tikka attack at Lord’s
How the Indian cuisine has dominated proceedings at Lord’s.
Read our story here.
19:01 hrs IST
It looks bleak
There is still drizzle around and the skies are unrelenting at the moment.
If it does not start today, play will be extended by half an hour on each of the next four days.
18:41 hrs IST
Which way will Kohli go?
The captain did say that playing with two spinners was quite a tempting proposition, but then now that it has rained, will it change the dynamics?
The conditions will be overcast, and there will be moisture on the square, which will India look?
18:20 hrs IST
Nothing new to report
It is still drizzling at Lord’s, the covers are firmly in place. However, the ground staff are doing their bit to get the water off the covers.
The forecast is positive for the next three days, so yes, there is something to cheer about.
18:05 hrs IST
No good news
The match had been due to start at 11:00am local time but with rain still falling no play was possible in the morning session.
Lunch was brought forward by 30 minutes to 12:30pm local time in the hope of a prompt resumption come the scheduled second session of play.
17:45 hrs IST
Weather update
According to reports, the weather is expected to be clear by 19:30 IST. So, a long wait for cricket fans who were waiting for some action at Lord’s.
17:06 hrs IST
Early lunch
Still no sign of clear skies and the teams have taken an early lunch at Lord’s.
16:56 hrs IST
Team Photo
Funing the #teamIndia from the balcony of the Lord's Ground Of #London, Toss delayed due to rain.#ENGvIND @imVkohli @yashika10gupta
@jaspritbumrah93 @RishabPant777@RaviShastriOfc @Dineshkarthik @ShikharDhawan@ICC@BCCI pic.twitter.com/izdhZQkNC1
— Sulabh Yadav (@SulabhYadav20) August 9, 2018
16:44 hrs IST
Llyod on Kohli
“He is doing extremely well. It was a bit unfortunate in the last Test (India lost by 31 runs in Edgbaston).”
What about his aggression, send-off to rival captains? “I suppose you can’t be a pussy cat (laughs). You can be stern at times, as long as you don’t go over the line,” former West Indies skipper Clive Llyod said with a smile.
16:33 hrs IST
Dampener for fans
The forecast for the day was around 80 percent precipitation until afternoon and a let up after that. Fans watched the bleak weather from the packed stands as security personnel who ushered them in kept muttering, ‘what a pity’. It is still drizzling and still no sign of play at Lord’s.
15:24 hrs IST
Stokes wishes Pope well
Ben Stokes sent best wishes to his England team-mates, in particular debutant batsman Ollie Pope, ahead of the second Test against India at Lord’s on Thursday.
Stokes wished his colleagues well in a Twitter message accompanied by an Instagram photograph of all-rounder Sam Curran, like Pope a 20-year-old Surrey star, celebrating a wicket.
“Good luck to all the englandcricket lads today and for the rest of the week, always exciting seeing guys get there first opportunity, hope it goes for you well for you @opope32 #loveengland” wrote Stokes.
16:16 hrs IST
Waugh’s verdict on Kohli
Steve Waugh, who appeared in 168 Tests and 325 ODIs for Australia, feels Indian captain Virat Kohli has the technique to survive in any conditions and that’s why he rates Kohli as the best batsman in the world.
“He (Kohli) has got the game to survive anywhere, I think he’s got the best technique of anyone in world cricket,” Waugh told cricket.com.au recently.
16:09 hrs IST
Groundsmen working hard
It is still raining at Lord’s and the groundsmen are sweeping water off covers, which they have been doing periodically. They have also set up some sort of pipe system to drain water off the covers and hopefully, the game can begin shortly.
16:02 hrs IST
Fact Check
The last time an entire day’s play was washed out in a Lord’s test was in May 2001 against Pakistan (1st day’s play). Hopefully, we will get to see some action today.
15:58 hrs IST
All rain no play
India skipper Virat Kohli and his England counterpart Joe Root will be happy they didn’t announce plans to play a second spinner in the second Test at Lord’s. After scorching heat that predicted a dry pitch, rain since early in the day ruled out the start of the highly anticipated game at least till late afternoon.
15:49 hrs IST
Will India go for Kuldeep?
For India, it remains to be seen whether the team management would still rope in chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav. Skipper Virat Kohli had said on Wednesday that playing a second spinner was a “tempting” option, but it may not be that much anymore.
Lord’s groundsmen were busy baling out water from the covers on the pitch and bowlers’ run-up. More showers are forecast in the next few days, which leaves a question mark over whether the teams will get enough playing time to make a match of it.
India, who won their last Test at the venue in 2014, are aiming to win their first Test series in England for 11 years. After a 1-0 win in 2007, they lost 0-4 in 2011 and 1-3 in 2014.
15:41 hrs IST
Should Pujara be included?
#ENGvIND | Should #CheteshwarPujara be included in the playing XI?
Follow LIVE | https://t.co/1ysakOqAi8
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) August 9, 2018
15:36 hrs IST
Weather report
Early morning overcast skies in north London eventually gave way to gentle but persistent rain which was sufficient to ensure the pitch and square at the ‘home of cricket’ remained fully covered.
15:31 hrs IST
Still no good news
It's pouring down at the moment and the toss has been delayed due to the same.#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/ZfkcpJQYPx
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 9, 2018
15:23 hrs IST
Five things India should do to win Lord’s Test
15:12 hrs IST
Covers still on
The drizzle has persisted and the covers are still on. This is not what the cricket fans were hoping for after the exciting encounter at Edgbaston. But, London weather can be quite fickle and it can be sunny in a matter of hours.
15:06 hrs IST
Toss delayed
It is still raining in London and the toss is delayed. The pitch can retain moisture due to the persistent rain and it will be a good deck for the pace bowlers once the game begins.
15:02 hrs IST
Rahane’s record
Ajinkya Rahane averages 64.50 in the second Test of a series compared to 25.75 in the first match of a series (including one-off Tests). Five of his nine Test 100s have come in the second Test of a series.
14:53 hrs IST
England’s record at Lord’s
The last time England played a Test match at this venue, they were defeated by Pakistan. In May, a nine-wicket defeat by Pakistan at Lord’s meant England had gone eight Tests without a win following series losses in Australia and New Zealand.
14:48 hrs IST
Light drizzle, covered pitches
It is raining lightly in London and the pitches are under cover. The start of the match can be delayed due to the rain and only time will till if the game will start on time.
14:45 hrs IST
Sachin Tendulkar’s advice
India legend Sachin Tendulkar had some words of wisdom for Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli ahead of the Lord’s Test. “I would say, just continue, he’s doing a fantastic job so just continue. Don’t worry about what’s happening around you, keep your focus on what you want to achieve, and let your heart guide the way,” he told ESPN Cricinfo.
14:40 hrs IST
Rainy day at London?
According to reports, the pitch is under covers under gloomy skies in London. When it comes to India’s team selection, nothing is certain as of now, and as the weather in England tends to be fleeting, the Indian management should take all factors into consideration. Read our analysis here.
14:34 hrs IST
‘Doesn’t matter who takes us over the line’
Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli said that it does not matter who performs as long as India wins the second Test match against England at Lord’s.
“It doesn’t matter whether I get (over) the line or Jinks (Ajinkya Rahane) does or (Murali) Vijay does or KL (Rahul) does or whoever does. As long as we cross the line, that is the only thing that matters,” Kohli insisted.
14:25 IST
India’s Probable XI
Will Shikhar Dhawan get another chance or it is comeback time for Cheteshwar Pujara? A look at the probable XI for the Indian cricket team, according to Hindustan Times. Read full story here. http://bit.ly/2OXlhcy
14:20 hrs IST
Debut for Ollie Pope
Ollie Pope will make his debut against India in the second Test starting at the Lord’s on Thursday.
Skipper Joe Root announced that Surrey batsman Pope will receive his first cap batting at No. 4, replacing Dawid Malan from the side that won the first game by 31 runs at Edgbaston last week.
14:15 hrs IST
Virat Kohli magic
In both the innings of the first Test which India lost by 31 runs, all the batsmen, apart from skipper Virat Kohli failed. No other batters supported Kohli, who at the other hand fought valiantly.
Kohli scored 149 in the first innings while the other batsmen could only score 107 runs combined. The story of the second innings was more or less the same as Kohli top-scored with 51 runs in 93 balls.
14:09 hrs IST
No Stokes for England
All-rounder Ben Stokes, who played an influential role in the Edgbaston win, is not a part of the Lord’s Test and Jos Buttler said it is going to be a “massive miss”.
“Stokes is going to be a massive miss at Lord’s, but we knew he wasn’t going to be involved. And, any time he isn’t in the side, it gives the chance to others to try and fill his shoes, just as Sam Curran did at Edgbaston. He has an incredibly bright future ahead of him.”
13:38 hrs IST
Two spinners for India?
Having lost the closely-contested first Test by a margin of 31 runs, skipper Virat Kohli indicated that his team could field two spinners to capitalise on the pitch when it is worn out while speaking at a press conference ahead of the second Test.
“When the wicket wears off, the spinners can come into play as well. So yeah, (it is) tempting though to field two spinners, but again we have to take a call on that. Depending on the team balance but yeah, I think it’s definitely in contention,” he said.
13:36 hrs IST
Hello and welcome to the 2nd Test
The second Test match between India and England is here and it is a crucial encounter for Virat Kohli & Co. They are trailing 1-0 in the five-match series and a loss at Lord’s can end their hopes of winning this series.