Rain washes out play

Melbourne, Dec 26: Australian paceman Matthew Nicholson and England wicketkeeper Warren Hegg were kept waiting for their Test cricket debuts today when the opening day of the fourth Test was washed out.

Australian captain Mark Taylor won the toss and sent England in to bat on a grassy wicket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. However heavy, persistent rain prevented play on the opening day and the umpires abandoned the day at 1615 hrs local time. Play is scheduled to start half an hour early on the next four days to help make up for lost time.

Taylor made utility bowler Colin Miller his 12th man while England dropped batsman John Crawley and off-spinner Peter Such. Veteran seamer Angus Fraser got a surprise recall, ahead of youngster Alex Tudor.