England v New Zealand: Rain washes out day one at Headingley

Persistent rain washed out the first day of the second Test between England and New Zealand at Headingley.

On a wet and windy day, rain delayed the scheduled start and although there were sunny intervals between the showers, they never lasted long enough for the outfield to be drained.

Play was abandoned for the day shortly before 16:00 BST.

With an improved forecast for the weekend, the match should now start at 11:00 BST on Saturday.

It was the first time since 1980 that the entire first day of a Headingley Test had been lost to the weather.

England lead the two-match series 1-0 after a 170-run victory in the opening Test at Lord's.

Alastair Cook's men are playing their final Test before the Ashes series against Australia, with several players looking to cement their places.

The positions of opener Nick Compton and batsman Jonny Bairstow are both under scrutiny, while pace bowler Steven Finn is under pressure from Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan.

New Zealand have been forced into a reshuffle by injuries to wicketkeeper BJ Watling and spinner Bruce Martin.

Veteran left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori failed a fitness Test on an Achilles injury, meaning the Black Caps will field a four-man seam attack, with Doug Bracewell replacing Martin.

Skipper Brendon McCullum will keep wicket and bat at number seven, one place below batsman Martin Guptill, who comes in for Watling.

England: Alastair Cook (capt), Nick Compton, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior (wk), Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn (or Tim Bresnan), James Anderson.

New Zealand: Peter Fulton, Hamish Rutherford, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Dean Brownlie, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum (capt & wk), Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult.