England vs India, 1st Test at London, , Jul 19 2007 - Ball by Ball Commentary

6.20 pm Well that's it. The match has been called off. England have been denied by the rain, India have been let off the hook, it's a draw. Lots of relieved faces in the Indian dressing room. There'll be several frustrated ones in England's for sure.

A pity that weather had the final say in a fascinating Test. Dhoni's innings, 76 off 159 balls, has gone rather unnoticed. He and the rain have played important parts in the end result.

The presentation is taking place indoors because of the bad weather outside. Kevin Pietersen is the Man of the Match for his outstanding hundred that pushed India firmly on to the back foot.

That's in from us at Cricinfo for today. The next Test starts on Friday at Trent Bridge. Will Luke, Jenny Thompson, Martin Williamson and Andrew McGlashan will bring you the ball-by-ball commentary for that game. Do join us then. This is George Binoy taking the liberty to sign off for Jamie Alter too ... Cheers.

6.18 pm The umpires have taken a look at the conditions, they walked out with their umbrellas so it's still raining. We've been informed that they've gone to have a chat with the two captains. You'll have more news as soon as I do ...

6.10 pm Still no change in the weather at Lord's. "It's raining," says Sid V. "Some wild celebrations in the Nursery End of the ground. A Monday crowd getting their money's worth." The Indian contigent no doubt.

5.55 pm Status quo at Lord's. If conditions don't improve, the match will be called off at 6.30 pm. That's in a little over 30 minutes.

"Sorry to be a damp squib guys but I have just downloaded the moving radar weather map from the met and the rain dancers are winning big time. My advice - hit the bar and send in a ten-minute update as such 'hic'," emails Paul.

5.45 pm As promised, the ten-minute update from Siddhartha Vaidyanathan at Lord's. "Still drizzling," he says. "It's getting quite heavy ... a sensational end to a super Test." Well it's not quite at the end yet, but we're slowly getting there.

5.35 pm There's been a clamouring for regular updates, I'll try and give them to you every ten minutes or so (every minute is pushing it!). For the moment nothing has changed. It's still raining and the overhead conditions are gloomy.

"I am doing the rain dance in my room," confesses Cyrus, before adding "Nothing obscene." It's definitely working so far ...

5.25 pm The situtation hasn't changed much. Still drizzling and the light's not the best.

"For how much longer should it rain for the Indians to get out of this one?" asks Rahul. Well, play went on until 7.30 pm on Saturday and 7.00 pm last evening. So there's a fair bit to go yet.

5.12 pm Still drizzling at Lord's. Not very heavy but it's enough to keep the players off the field.

"Cold, damp, filthy and grey. Ishant Sharma is walking across from the pavilion to the Nursery End, though I can't imagine he'd want to be bowling in the nets in this weather. Maybe indoors. The light is no better than when they went off," says Dileep Premachandran.

4.40 pm The drizzle has got steadier and more covers have been brought on. Perhaps a few Indian fans are doing the rain dance at Lord's.

4.25 pm The drizzle has returned and the covers are going back on. The 4.40 pm start is doubtful now. The groundsmen are saying that now that the rain has started it's not going to stop for long intervals.

S Rajesh, our Stats man, tells me that 14 batsmen have been dismissed lbw in this match. The record is 17, during the Trinidad Test between West Indies and Pakistan in 1993.

4.09 pm Steve Bucknor and Simon Taufel have inspected conditions, and they've decided it's good for play. The covers are starting to come off. Play will resume at 4.40 pm.

4.05 pm We're coming close to half an hour since the players went off for bad light. The drizzle has got heavier now. The covers are still on. The light, however, is brighter.

3.40 pm The rain has finally arrived. Well it's actually a drizzle but the groundstaff have covered the square. The rain isn't a serious problem but the light is the concern. It should improve soon though ...

3.33 pm Tea is scheduled in seven minutes, but it can be pushed back a maximum of 30 minutes. Bucknor and Taufel inspect the light again. It's not good enough, according to them, and they offer it to the batsmen. Not surprisingly, it's snapped up in a second and off march Dhoni and Sreesanth. England follow them reluctantly. A couple smiles on the Indian balcony, namely Tendulkar, as the players head inside. So tea is taken five minutes earlier on day five. Umbrellas go up in the stands and the covers are guided on.

England need one wicket.

I'm off to get myself a cuppa, and it will be George after the break. Cheers.

3.33 pm Tea is scheduled in seven minutes, but it can be pushed back a maximum of 30 minutes. Bucknor and Taufel inspect the light again. It's not good enough, according to them, and they offer it to the batsmen. Not surprisingly, it's snapped up in a second and off march Dhoni and Sreesanth. England follow them reluctantly. A couple smiles on the Indian balcony, namely Tendulkar, as the players head inside. So tea is taken five minutes earlier on day five. Umbrellas go up in the stands and the covers are guided on.

England need one wicket.

I'm off to get myself a cuppa, and it will be George after the break. Cheers.

3.40 pm The rain has finally arrived. Well it's actually a drizzle but the groundstaff have covered the square. The rain isn't a serious problem but the light is the concern. It should improve soon though ...

4.05 pm We're coming close to half an hour since the players went off for bad light. The drizzle has got heavier now. The covers are still on. The light, however, is brighter.

4.09 pm Steve Bucknor and Simon Taufel have inspected conditions, and they've decided it's good for play. The covers are starting to come off. Play will resume at 4.40 pm.

4.25 pm The drizzle has returned and the covers are going back on. The 4.40 pm start is doubtful now. The groundsmen are saying that now that the rain has started it's not going to stop for long intervals.

S Rajesh, our Stats man, tells me that 14 batsmen have been dismissed lbw in this match. The record is 17, during the Trinidad Test between West Indies and Pakistan in 1993.

4.40 pm The drizzle has got steadier and more covers have been brought on. Perhaps a few Indian fans are doing the rain dance at Lord's.

5.12 pm Still drizzling at Lord's. Not very heavy but it's enough to keep the players off the field.

"Cold, damp, filthy and grey. Ishant Sharma is walking across from the pavilion to the Nursery End, though I can't imagine he'd want to be bowling in the nets in this weather. Maybe indoors. The light is no better than when they went off," says Dileep Premachandran.

5.25 pm The situtation hasn't changed much. Still drizzling and the light's not the best.

"For how much longer should it rain for the Indians to get out of this one?" asks Rahul. Well, play went on until 7.30 pm on Saturday and 7.00 pm last evening. So there's a fair bit to go yet.

5.35 pm There's been a clamouring for regular updates, I'll try and give them to you every ten minutes or so (every minute is pushing it!). For the moment nothing has changed. It's still raining and the overhead conditions are gloomy.

"I am doing the rain dance in my room," confesses Cyrus, before adding "Nothing obscene." It's definitely working so far ...

5.45 pm As promised, the ten-minute update from Siddhartha Vaidyanathan at Lord's. "Still drizzling," he says. "It's getting quite heavy ... a sensational end to a super Test." Well it's not quite at the end yet, but we're slowly getting there.

5.55 pm Status quo at Lord's. If conditions don't improve, the match will be called off at 6.30 pm. That's in a little over 30 minutes.

"Sorry to be a damp squib guys but I have just downloaded the moving radar weather map from the met and the rain dancers are winning big time. My advice - hit the bar and send in a ten-minute update as such 'hic'," emails Paul.

6.10 pm Still no change in the weather at Lord's. "It's raining," says Sid V. "Some wild celebrations in the Nursery End of the ground. A Monday crowd getting their money's worth." The Indian contigent no doubt.

6.18 pm The umpires have taken a look at the conditions, they walked out with their umbrellas so it's still raining. We've been informed that they've gone to have a chat with the two captains. You'll have more news as soon as I do ...

6.20 pm Well that's it. The match has been called off. England have been denied by the rain, India have been let off the hook, it's a draw. Lots of relieved faces in the Indian dressing room. There'll be several frustrated ones in England's for sure.

A pity that weather had the final say in a fascinating Test. Dhoni's innings, 76 off 159 balls, has gone rather unnoticed. He and the rain have played important parts in the end result.

The presentation is taking place indoors because of the bad weather outside. Kevin Pietersen is the Man of the Match for his outstanding hundred that pushed India firmly on to the back foot.

That's in from us at Cricinfo for today. The next Test starts on Friday at Trent Bridge. Will Luke, Jenny Thompson, Martin Williamson and Andrew McGlashan will bring you the ball-by-ball commentary for that game. Do join us then. This is George Binoy taking the liberty to sign off for Jamie Alter too ... Cheers.

Last ball single?

Five men hover around the bat

Sreesanth will face one ball...tension, tension...