Fans out of luck as rain hits Test

THOUSANDS of cricket fans were left frustrated at Lord's today as a stubborn grey cloud hung over the summer's most eagerly awaited Test.

Long queues had formed outside the ground more than two hours before scheduled start of play at 11am but any prospect of England and Australia going back into Ashes battle on time disappeared as drizzle topped up an outfield already wet following heavy overnight rain.

Lord's has not enjoyed much luck on the weather front this season with the opening day of the summer's First Test, against Pakistan, washed out without a ball bowled.

Today's forecast was more promising with brighter conditions expected after lunch but the morning delay still

created an air of anti-climax around stands which would have been buzzing with excitement if the rain had stayed away.

Australia's innings victory at Edgbaston in the first Test of this five-match series may have dampened early season optimism about England's chances of finally regaining the Ashes which they lost in 1989.

But the Birmingham result came far too late to affect the public turnout at Lord's. The opening four days of the second Test were sold out months ago and officials reckon that demand for tickets has never been higher.

Even The Queen was due at the ground this afternoon with an appointment to meet both teams during the tea interval.

Australia had announced their XI yesterday unchanged from Edgbas- ton despite a couple of injury scares earlier this week. England, meanwhile, decided to go with an all pace attack by recalling Dominic Cork at the expense of spinner Ashley Giles.

The fear among home supporters is that the world champions' success in Birmingham could pave the way for another one-sided series But David Graveney, England's chairman of selectors, has dismissed suggestions that his side live in awe of Australia.

"There is a huge difference between having respect for your opponents and being in awe them," he said.

"I know I can look into the eyes of every single member of our team and see that they still believe they can beat Australia."

History suggests Lord's is the least likely place for that to happen with England having secured only one Ashes triumph there in the last century. Even more worrying for them, perhaps, the tourists are adamant they can play better than at Edgbaston where some of their bowling and a lot of their fielding was below par.

Australian captain Steve Waugh said as much immediately after his team's victory in the First Test and, on the eve of the Lord's clash, played a clever game of building up England only to knock them down.

"England played better than they were given credit for in Birmingham," he said. "We happened to win the big moments but we are under no illusions about how difficult it is going to be to win again here."

But Waugh also drew attention to the fact that Australia's hosts were left with only two candidates, Mike Atherton and Marcus Trescothick, to stand in for injured captain Nasser Hussain after Alec Stewart and Mark Butcher had declared themselves unavailable.

Waugh said he had watched the situation with "more dismay than interest" and he did nothing to squash suggestions in the media that the reluctance of some senior England players to take charge was merely another example of the underdogs being overawed and lacking conviction.

"We know we are up against a formidable side but I certainly don't detect any lack of confidence in the camp," said Graveney in response.

"Our guys have had a difficult five or six weeks but the 18 months before that were brilliant."

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