Rain delays start of Pak-England Test

Rain delayed the start of play on the opening day of the fourth and final Test between England and Pakistan at Lord's on Thursday.

Heavy rain has fallen in London over the past 24 hours and after clearing briefly on Thursday morning it returned 20 minutes before the scheduled start time of 1000 GMT.

England lead the series 2-1.

Pakistan, who drew 1-1 with Australia earlier in the season, can level the four-match series 2-2 if they win at Lord's after twice exposing the England batting in their third-Test victory at the Oval last week.

The ongoing series is being viewed in the context of England's Ashes defence, starting in Brisbane on November 25, although conditions in Australia will bear no resemblance to the autumnal weather predicted for Lord's in the last Test of the summer.

England's priority will be to win at a venue where they have won or drawn nine consecutive Tests since losing to Australia in 2005.