Heavy overnight and early morning rain meant the square was still fully covered when the captains should have been tossing up at 10.30am (0930GMT).u00a0And after several showers, the umpires abandoned play for the day shortly before 4pm (1500GMT). England lead the series 1-0 after a 170-run first Test win, achieved with more than a day to spare, at Lord’s last week.

They dismissed New Zealand for just 68 in the tourists’ second innings with Stuart Broad taking seven wickets for 44 runs.u00a0New Zealand had already confirmed their team for this match, having to make two enforced changes.