The laws of cricket may be the domain of MCC but on the opening day of England versus South Africa at Lord’s it was the law of sod that held sway: after a six-week wait for Test cricket to return and the driest July since 1935, rain arrived with a vengeance.
Still, some 32 overs were sent down before the terminal deluge began at 2.09pm and, though enough play to rule out a refund for the soggy spectators, it also underlined predictions of a particularly tasty series ahead. England, aggressors these days under the captaincy of Ben Stokes, stumbled to 116 for six with Ollie Pope, 61 not out, the only batter to resist a fine bowling display from Dean Elgar’s tourists.
