No play before lunch for South Africa and India

Rain delayed the start of the first test between South Africa and India at Centurion on Thursday, with no play possible before lunch on the first day.

Heavy rain at the time of the scheduled toss meant the ground was waterlogged for much of the morning.

Local emergency officials even issued a warning that cars parked on the Hennops River End of the ground could be washed away as the river had burst its banks.

The delay meant neither team had named their starting XIs, giving India’s pace spearhead Zaheer Khan more time to recover from the hamstring strain that has been troubling him.

The rain began to ease off as the scheduled lunch break approached and the groundstaff were busy removing the covers and preparing the field for action as the players had their midday meal.

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Heavy rain delays South Africa vs India

Heavy rain delayed the start of the first test between South Africa and India at Centurion on Thursday.

The Gauteng region has been swamped by steady rain since the weekend and there has been little let-up, meaning there is no prospect of a toss in the immediate future.

The delay will give Indian pace bowler Zaheer Khan extra time to recover from his hamstring strain.

Centurion has had a sorry history of rain washing out play in previous years.