Jofra Archer receives England Test cap but Day 1 of Ashes Test washed out

Thursday will now effectively be first day of second match between England and holders Australia

Test Match Special commentators Phil Tufnell, Michael Vaughan and Jonathan Agnew avoid the rain during day one of the 2nd Specsavers Ashes Test match at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, England. Getty Images

England’s Jason Roy with a football on the players balcony as he watches the rain fall. John Walton / PA Wire

The umpires come out for their final pitch inspection before calling a halt to the day due to the rain. Getty Images

Match umpire’s Aleem Dar and Chris Gaffaney, centre, speak to England’s captain Joe Root as they inspect the pitch. Mike Egerton / PA Wire

England’s Jofra Archer does kick ups with a football as they inspect the pitch. Mike Egerton / PA Wire

A fan in the stands waits for the start of play as the rain continues to fall. Mike Egerton / PA Wire

England coach Trevor Bayliss in action during the warm up. Getty Images

England's Jack Leach warms up as rain delays play. Action Images via Reuters

England's Jonny Bairstow warms up. Reuters

Australia coach Justin Langer, left, and Steve Smith inspect the pitch. Mike Egerton / PA Wire

Jofra Archer of England is presented his test cap by Chris Jordan. Getty Images

Archer of England is presented his test cap. Getty Images

Australia’s captain Tim Paine, centre, and the rest of the team inspect the pitch. Mike Egerton / PA Wire

England's Joe Root before play. Action Images via Reuters

A spectator shelters from the rain with an umbrella ahead of play. AFP

Groundstaff remove the covers before play. Action Images via Reuters

Spectators with umbrellas as rain delays play. Action Images via Reuters

Jofra Archer received his England Test cap but was still to make his debut as rain saw the first day of Wednesday's second Ashes match against Australia abandoned without a ball bowled at a soaking wet Lord's.

Chris Jordan, a Sussex teammate, presented Archer with the cap in England's pre-match huddle ahead of a revised toss at 3pm local time (6pm UAE) – only for further rain to delay the start once again.

With rain still lashing an increasingly gloomy 'home of cricket', umpires Aleem Dar and Chris Gaffaney finally abandoned play for the day after tea at 4.19pm.

Jordan may only have made eight Test appearances but he has been something of a "cricket brother" for fellow Barbados-born county colleague Archer.

When the match should have been getting underway at 11am, the square and pitch remained fully covered.

Further rain then meant hopes of any play before lunch soon disappeared as well.

Now officials will hope the weather relents sufficiently for the match to begin at the scheduled 2pm UAE start of Thursday's second day.

Ashes holders Australia lead the five-match series 1-0 after their 251-run win in the first Test at Edgbaston last week.

It is 18 years since Australia last won an Ashes series in England. In 17 of the last 19 Ashes campaigns, the team that has led 1-0 has won the series.

The exceptions were in 1997 when Australia lost at Edgbaston, but won the six-match series 3-2 and 2005 when England lost at Lord's but won the five-Test series 2-1.

World Cup winner Archer is set to play after James Anderson, England's all-time leading wicket-taker, was ruled out with a calf injury that meant he bowled just four overs at Edgbaston.

Neither England nor Australia have yet named their teams. They are not required to do so until the toss takes place.