CHENNAI, Dec 3: Rain and wet ground forced the second day’s play to be called off without a ball being bowled in the first Test between India and Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Umpires Daryl Harper and Mark Benson called it off after inspecting the ground at 0730 GMT.

After play was washed out on the first day, chances of an early start on Saturday were always bleak following heavy overnight rain and intermittent showers through the morning.

The weather improved in the afternoon, and the groundsmen removed the covers and began work, before more drizzle arrived.

More rain is expected and the first match of the three-Test series, the first by Sri Lanka in India for eight years, may well be over before it has started.—Reuters