Almost two hours before play was scheduled to finish, the opening day of the second Test was abandoned without a single ball being bowled.
Umpires made the decision at 4.49pm local time (7.49pm UAE time) after rain had hit London.
Rain delayed the start of the second Specsavers Test between England and India at Lord’s.
Forecast poor weather moved in by 10am, and the ground remained under full cover two hours later – leaving the prospects of any play before lunch highly unlikely.
The outlook was bleak for much of Thursday, in fact, allowing both teams extra time to assess their selection conundrums.
They have each left open the option of picking two spinners, on a pitch previously baked by this summer’s protracted heatwave.
But under cloud cover, they may revert to predominantly seam attacks.
Ground staff sweep water from the covers at the Home of Cricket.
England, who announced on the eve of this Test that 20-year-old batsman Ollie Pope will make his debut here at number four, lead the five-match series 1-0 after their thrilling 31-run win at Edgbaston last weekend.