Cricket: Tourists' plans ruined by rain

Australia will go into tomorrow's opening Texaco Trophy match with England needing to overcome a lack of match practice after yesterday's final warm- up against Durham failed even to begin because of a waterlogged square at the county's Chester-le-Street headquarters.

Kevin Keegan opened the pounds 2.6m second phase of the impressive Riverside development half an hour before the scheduled start but not even the most modern technical aids could deal with several hours of overnight rain that had created patches of mud on wicket ends close to the intended pitch.

The abandonment of the game - sponsored, by unfortunate coincidence, by Northumbrian Water - was as a huge blow to the county and especially to their captain, the former Australian Test batsman, David Boon.

A record crowd of 6,000 had been anticipated and contractors had worked until 2.30 in the morning to put the finishing touches to the new buildings.

The extent to which it is a setback to the Australians, who arrived in England only last week, may become apparent tomorrow. Having lost time to the weather at Northampton last Saturday and then been dismissed cheaply at Worcester on Sunday, they are certainly less well-prepared than they would have hoped, although their coach, Geoff Marsh, admitted that the decision to schedule only a brief acclimatisation had been a calculated risk.

"We had good weather in 1989 and 1993 but we knew the chances were that there would be rain this time," he said. "However, we had to give the players a break after South Africa. They have had three and a half weeks off but they were very busy before that.

"It is disappointing that we could not play here but it is not the end of the world. Just about everyone has had some cricket and come Thursday we just have to do the business.''

The one possible casualty is fast bowler Andrew Bichel, who was due to test his recovery from a back injury that has kept him out thus far. Australia must decide whether to gamble on his fitness or give the third seamer's place to Michael Kasprowicz.

Marsh said the team picked yesterday - comprising Taylor, the Waugh brothers, Bevan, Ponting, Slater, Healy, Warne, Bichel, Gillespie and McGrath - was "very close" to the side likely to play at Headingley.

Brothers with attitude, page 31