Rain hits fourth Test

Rain spoiled what shaped as an exciting day of cricket between England and Pakistan in the fourth Test at Lords on Thursday.

Just 12.3 overs were played for the day after continual rain and bad light forced play to be abandoned with England on 39-1 in their first innings.

Play didn't get started until after lunch as rain washed away the first period, but England finally came out to bat after in the afternoon after Pakistan captain Salman Butt unsurprisingly chose to bowl in conditions perfect for seamers.

England openers Andrew Strauss and Alistair Cook managed to weather the opening storm, but Mohammad Asif made an important breakthrough snaring Strauss in the second last over before bad light stopped play and the rain set in for the day.

It should have been even better for Pakistan had Umar Akmal not dropped a regulation chance off Alistair Cook at third slip in the third over of the day.

Mohammad Amir, who conceded five wides of the first ball of the innings, was unlucky not to get Cook then and thought he'd had the opener caught behind few overs later only for the review system to show the ball missing the edge of Cook's bat.

Play will resume on day two on Friday, with England currently leading the four match series 2-1.