Uncertainty enveloped the start of the fifth One-Day International between India and England after the outfield at the Nehru stadium in Guwahati was rendered soggy by unseasonal rain.

Umpires A V Jayprakash and Rudy Koertzen carried out three inspections of the ground, at 0800, 0900 and 1030 IST, and ruled that the start of the match would be further delayed to enable the outfield dry up.

They will make another inspection at 1200 IST to ascertain the conditions.

A heavy downpour for over an hour on Saturday evening and a drizzle on Sunday morning was a further dampner on the match, shorn of much interest with India having already clinched the series 4-0.

The conditions are overcast since morning, with the sun filtering through only intermittently.

"The condition of the pitch is not that bad. But the real problem is the outfield, which is soggy and slippery," an Assam Cricket Association official said, even as the groundsmen worked at frenetic pace to dry the ground.

The super sopper has also been pressed into service.

A former international cricketer said the condition of the outfield is so bad that players stand the risk of getting injured.

"I think only a 20 or 25 over match will be possible in the afternoon if the cloud cover disappears and there is sunshine for a long time," he said, as the modest but colourful turnout at the stadium was left disappointed following the rain-induced developments.