Rain wins out at Centurion

No play was possible at all on the first scheduled day at Centurion Park in the final Test of 2004/05's d'Oliveira Trophy series between England and South Africa, further increasing the likelihood of England holding on to their 2-1 series lead and becoming the first English victors in South Africa for forty years.

The rain was never constant, but returned at regular intervals throughout the day's play to constantly scupper the hopes of the admittedly sparse crowd, and umpires Steve Bucknor and Aleem Dar had little choice but to abandon play for the day well before the scheduled closing time.

South Africa have dropped Boeta Dippenaar, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn from their squad at Johannesburg, with Andrew Hall and Andre Nel expected to return to the starting line-up allowing AB de Villiers to move to number five and Hall to enter the engine room of 7, 8 and 9 along with Shaun Pollock and Nicky Boje.

England, meanwhile, will make at least one change with James Anderson removed from their 13-man squad. Paul Collingwood, Simon Jones and Jon Lewis are set to fight for the final position in the starting eleven, with Lewis seemingly likely to play following scenes of congratulation from his England team-mates shortly before one of the day's scheduled starts, before rain once more intervened.

Posted by Neil