eng vs ind : 1st day's play stop due rain

London: festivities are in the London asthe gentleman game celebrate the 2000th test. with this, another chapter has been added to cricket glorious history and that too at the mecca of cricket -the lord's cricket ground.

The 134-year long journey also reached the 100th test b/w eng vs ind  to make the occasion even more momentous. but after all the hoopla surrounding the contest, rain gods stop play .

 The dignitaries from the world of cricket, Sharad Pawar (ICC President), Haroon Lorgat (ICC Chief Executive), Shashank Manohar (BCCI President); former greats of the game like Steve Waugh and Anil Kumble; and who's who of English cricket were all present to witness history unfold. But they all left the jam-packed stadium with grim faces when umpires decided to call off the first day's play after persistent rain.

Another reason why the first Test of the four-match series has got the top billing is because the maestro Sachin Tendulkar is just one century away of completing 100 international tons. And considering the thin record of the milestone man at Lord's (with the best score of 37 in seven innings), one could ensure that he is primed for the occasion.

And though Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to bowl first means more wait for Sachin fans, a better effort from Indian bowlers and a little mercy from rain Gods would have made the day.

Instead, bad news was waiting in the wings for India as they were jolted when their bowling spearhead Zaheer Khan limped back to the pavilion after pulling his hamstring in the middle of his spell.

In the absence of the 32-year-old paceman, Indian bowling looked toothless as the other seamers Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma could only bowl well in patches. And if Zaheer has to sit out the Test, it would mean more work for the rest, especially Harbhajan Singh.

England were 127/2 when the day's play was abandoned, with Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen having weathered the storm for the home side.

Zaheer's return will be at the top of India's wish list when they take the field on day two, with an expectation from their bowlers for a better show and from their fielders to hang onto whatever comes their way.