The 2nd Test of the present Series between England and India was to begin at Lord’s yesterday – people waited – and had to leave without watching a ball being bowled as day 1 play was abandoned due to rain.


Lord’s experienced its first washout of a day of Test match cricket play since 2001 on Thursday leaving the MCC to refund around £2m worth of matchday tickets. Rain insurance will cover the cost of refunds - Both captains will name their teams on Friday and the weather may well have changed their plans. The damp conditions will probably persuade England to play one spinner in Adil Rashid leaving Chris Woakes clear to resume his Test career after injury in place of the absent Ben Stokes. India are likely to drop opener Shikhar Dhawan and replace him with Cheteshwar Pujara, who will bat at three. KL Rahul will move up to open with Murali Vijay. Vividly remember that summer tour in June 1986 when Kapil Dev led us to a victory in the 1st Test at Lords. It was India’s firstTest victory at Lord's and only their second in 33 Tests in England. It started well for England – RT Robinson got out to Maninder making 35 with score at 66; Gooch made 114 and Pringle 63 as England were all out for 294. Chetan Sharma took 5/64; Roger Binny 55/3 – while Kapil dev who bowled so well ended up 1/67. India replied strongly with Mohinder 69, Dilip Vengsarkar 126 – totalling 341. In the 2nd innings England were shot out for 180 – Kapil taking 4 and Maninder Singh 3. The target of 134 was achieved losing 5 wickets.Kapil was the Man of the match – a good match for Chetan Sharma, who is otherwise remembered for that one delivery at Sharjah to Minadad. With regards – S. Sampathkumar 10th Aug 2018.