For the second day running no play was possible in India's four-day game against the South African A team at Buffalo Park in East London on Sunday, bringing the total number of days lost either to the elements or the conditions by the Indians in the past two weeks to five.

All three days in the tourists' match against a President's XI in Chatsworth were abandoned because of a waterlogged outfield and now in East London the Indians have encountered similar circumstances during a tour that has been dogged by ill luck.

Overnight rain in East London delayed the start on Sunday and a light drizzle later in the morning eventually persuaded the umpires that there was no possibility of play. An attempt to start the game will be made at 9.45am on Monday.

For players from both teams the lack of play has proved frustrating. Connor Williams, for instance, has been in South Africa for more than two weeks, but has yet to get out onto the field and with the loss of each day's play, his chances of forcing his way into the Test side have receded. He may well go through his entire South African tour without setting foot on a field.

Daryll Cullinan, meanwhile, had hoped to persuade the South African selectors that he offers a solution to their middle order batting concerns, but he too, like Jacques Rudolph, has had to kick his heels. Like Williams, Rudolph was also due to play in the President's XI match, but found himself with more spare time than he might have wanted.