First day's play abandoned to bad weather in New Zealand

Rain, bad light and howling gale force winds forced the first day's play in the second test between England and New Zealand in Wellington to be abandoned.

Umpires Steve Dunne and his Australian colleague Darrell Hair called off play about three hours after the scheduled start without a ball being bowled.

Curator Trevor Jackson deemed the rain–drenched outfield was not fit for play. Both teams returned to their hotels soon after arriving at the venue.

Some of the lost time will be made up with an extra hour on each of the remaining four days. The rules of a four–day first–class match will apply, with the follow–on deficit 150 runs instead 200.

England lead the best–of–three series 1–0 following a comfortable 98–run win inside four days in the series opener at Lancaster Park at Christchurch.

It was the first opening–day washout in 51 years in a test at the Basin Reserve since the first day of the second test between New Zealand and England was abandoned on March 24, 1951.

Both teams have delayed naming their respective 11 as they wait on the fitness of two key players.

While New Zealand remains hopeful of leftarm spinner Daniel Vettori's match fitness, the tourists are undecided on whether to risk batsman Mark Butcher, who has a fractured right thumb.