Rain spoils play on day one

By Ted Corbett

LONDON, JULY 19. Rain dropped at Lord's by the cloudful to mark the start of the second Test between England and Australia and only 18 overs were possible before tea when the Queen made one of her traditional visits to the ground to meet the players.

It was an unsatisfactory start to a Test England had to win to retain an interest in the Ashes and the weather forecast for the next four days means that the Australian hope of winning all five Tests is not likely to be realised either.

The bookmakers, by the way, have no concern about the result. This morning they were offering only 4-1 about an Ozwash and everything around the England team in the last week of uncertainty over the captaincy, tactics and selection suggests they are right in theory and likely to be right in fact.

Little gestures, small actions and attention to detail wins Tests. We saw how the Australians went about their business while we waited for the northern winds to slacken and the rain to dry up this morning.

England brought its slips under the Press box and lined up in a rather desultory fashion as if it was performing a thankless task. The first ball flew high over Graham Thorpe's head, the second went straight into the crowd and the third dribbled along the ground.

Five Australian slips marched to their places five minutes later, measured out their correct spacing from the wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist and were served up two difficult catches each - including a dive forward for Gilchrist - in turn. How impressive is that?

Steve Waugh won the toss. I almost said of course without any justification. But I guess it helps if you believe you will win it. He also knew that Englishmen would least want to bat so he put them in on a white pitch but with thick overhead filth that must have had the quick bowlers offering gifts at whatever altar Australians use for worship.

Only 15 minutes' play was possible before lunch after 90 minutes' delay. It was a murky period in which there were two discussions about the light and Marcus Trescothick was dropped in the slips by Mark Waugh off a no-ball. If he puts down catches it must be dark and another hour's play vanished.

England had either fallen into a trap or deliberately gone for its shots in the Tests so far and once again today it hit three runs an over when doggedness might have been a more logical answer to this Australia battle wagon. It was helped by Jason Gillespie who seemed unable to keep the ball close to off stump until one leapt off a length and Trescothick drove it to Gillespie at 33.

Mark Butcher, a more confident batsman than the lad who was unable to cope with the responsibility of captaincy for one Test two years ago, heaved Shane Warne's first ball, an appalling long hop, for four and after 17 overs England reached. That over was completed by a second flailing missed cover drive from Michael Atherton, leading England for the 53rd time and relaxed with it. Miracles never cease.

The Queen arrived in time for tea. She had lunch with George Bush, the President of the United States, was driven to Lord's, chatted to Ted Dexter, soon to be president of MCC, and was presented not just to the two teams but to BBC radio's Test Match Special commentators. She handed them a cake - as many other ladies have done in the past, after cake deliveries to their commentary box became a traditional part of their chatty show - baked for the occasion with ``40'' in almonds on the top to mark their 40th anniversary.

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