Not cricket: rain stops play as normal weather resumes

Rain spoiled the day for the second Ashes Test at Lord's (above) yesterday, when heavy showers ended all hope of play, and, for only the fourth time in history, the first day of a Test match at the ground was lost.

Forecasters predicted rain for the start of the Wimbledon tennis championships next week. "There is no sign of summer at all as far as we can see," they warned. But the weather did nothing to dampen enthusiasm at Royal Ascot, where racing went ahead, with mud adding an unexpected touch to the Ladies' Day fashions.

At Lord's, where England's cricketers hoped to capitalise on their morale- boosting victory against Australia in the first Test, players and spectators spent a frustrating day. Mike Atherton, the England captain, said: "It's a shame, we all really want to get out there." Royal Ascot, pages 28, 29. Derek Pringle, page 32