Ashes score 2019 LIVE cricket: England vs Australia washed out - first day of second Test abandoned at Lord's

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The first day of the second test between England and Australia was rained out at Lord's on Wednesday without a ball being bowled.

Play had finally looked set to get underway after a morning of wet weather, with the umpires calling for a 3:30pm BST start during a dry spell.

The sides briefly came out, and the England staff had time to present Jofra Archer with his debut test cap. But the rain began to fall again minutes later, before the captains came out for the coin toss.

The sides will now aim to start the match on Thursday, with an extra half-hour of play allowed on each of the remaining four days to make up for the day lost.

Australia lead the five-match series 1-0 after an emphatic 251-run win at Edgbaston.

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Aussies haven’t left with the urn for 18 years can England make it five home wins in a row?

2001 | Australia win 4-1

Their seventh straight Ashes win as they handed out thrashings at Edgbaston, Lord’s and Trent Bridge. Then, at Headingley, Mark Butcher’s 173* pulled one back as England chased 315. Skipper Steve Waugh returned from injury at the Oval to score a century and secure the series. Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne shared 63 wickets.

2005 | England win 2-1

The greatest series. 17 wickets fell on the opening day at Lord’s as McGrath’s brilliance carried Australia to victory. But when he went down injured at Edgbaston, England roared back, then dominated the draw at Old Trafford. At Trent Bridge, they crept home in another classic, then just held Australia off at the Oval thanks to a century from Kevin Pietersen.

2009 | England win 2-1

This series did not lack drama. At Cardiff, James Anderson and Monty Panesar batted for 69 balls to save the draw, then Andrew Flintoff’s final five-for sealed success at Lord’s. Australia followed a draw at Edgbaston with a thumping win at Headingley. That took it to the wire at the Oval, where Stuart Broad and Jonathan Trott propelled England to victory.

2013 | England win 3-0

An oft-forgotten series, partly because England were in the early stages of falling apart following an extraordinary run in which they reached World No1. England won a nailbiter at Trent Bridge, then comfortably at Lord’s. A draw at Old Trafford ensured the hosts retained the Urn before going 3-0 up at Durham, where Ian Bell (right) made his third century of the series.

2015 | England win 3-2

Australia won in London when the pitches were flat, England elsewhere when the pitches were livelier. Joe Root’s century set up victory at Cardiff, before Australia hitback at Lord’s. England then won at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge, where Stuart Broad’s 8-15 decided the series. Australia easily took the finale at The Oval but it was Alastair Cook celebrating