Day one of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s in London was washed out without a delivery bowled on Wednesday.

Persistent showers didn’t allow captains Joe Root and Tim Paine to toss the coin and name the playing XIs and umpires Chris Gaffaney and Aleem Dar eventually cancelled proceedings at 16:21 local time (5:21pm SA time).

The hosts will likely replace the injured James Anderson with fellow fast bowler Jofra Archer. Batsman Joe Denly or spinner Jack Leach’s presence in the XI, meanwhile, remains in the balance. A recall for all-rounder Sam Curran is being considered.

The tourists will rest fast bowler James Pattinson, who hadn’t played Test cricket for three years prior to last week’s return in the series opener. Fellow right-armer Josh Hazlewood will likely replace Pattinson, leaving left-armer Mitchell Starc on the sidelines.

Australia are the reigning Ashes champions and won the first Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Former captain Steven Smith struck two centuries and spinner Nathan Lyon took nine wickets.

England enlisted the help of former Proteas spinner Simon Harmer prior to the second Test.

The home side’s decision to drop all-rounder Moeen Ali, who has since taken a ‘short break’ from county and international cricket, left a lack of off-spin in the squad. Harmer was included in pre-match training to effectively mimic the threat posed by Lyon.

Headingly in Leeds, Old Trafford in Manchester and The Oval in London will host Tests three, four and five, respectively, between 22 August and 16 September.

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