No play before lunch in second Eng-NZ Test

LEEDS, United Kingdom (AFP) –

Groundstaff wait for the rain to stop before play can start during the first day of the second Test match between England and New Zealand at the Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, on May 24, 2013. Rain has delayed the scheduled 11am local (1000GMT) start of the second and final Test between England and New Zealand at Headingley.

Rain meant there was no play before lunch on the first day of the second and final Test between England and New Zealand at Headingley on Friday.

Heavy overnight and early morning rain meant the square was still fully covered when the captains should have been tossing up at 10.30am (0930GMT).

With rain still falling, the umpires decided to take lunch half an hour early at 12.30pm (1130GMT).

England lead the series 1-0 after a 170-run first Test win, achieved with more than a day to spare, at Lord’s last week. They dismissed New Zealand for just 68 in the tourists’ second innings with Stuart Broad taking seven wickets for 44 runs.

New Zealand had already confirmed their team for this match, having to make two enforced changes.

Batsman Martin Guptill replaced wicket-keeper BJ Watling (knee) and seamer Doug Bracewell came in for spinner Bruce Martin (calf) after the pair both suffered injuries during the first Test.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, who deputised behind the stumps at Lord’s for Watling, confirmed Thursday he would keep wicket, despite having given up keeping in Tests full-time in 2010 because of back and knee problems.

View of the main pavilion at the Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, on July 21, 2010. Rain has delayed the scheduled 11am local (1000GMT) start of the second and final Test between England and New Zealand at Headingley.

The tourists hopes of recalling spinner Daniel Vettori after nearly a year out of Test cricket through injury ended when the former New Zealand captain was declared unfit for a five-day match on Thursday.

That left New Zealand with a four-man seam attack, spin being provided by occasional off-break bowler and top-order batsman Kane Williamson.

For England, the only outstanding selection decision appeared to be whether to bring in Tim Bresnan, who missed out at Lord’s, for fellow seamer Steven Finn.