PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Rain has delayed the start on the opening day of the opening Test between West Indies and South Africa today at Queen’s Park Oval.

The umpires have indicated that lunch shall be taken half-hour earlier than scheduled at 11:30 East Caribbean Time, with an aim for a possible start time of 12:10 pm East Caribbean Time, barring no more rain.

The long range forecast from the Trinidad & Tobago Met Office indicated that isolated thunderstorms would disrupt the match over the five days.

Umpires Steve Davis and Asad Rauf inspected the conditions just prior to the scheduled start, and discovered that water leaked from the covers onto some areas of the pitch, and some areas of the outfield were soggy.

“The ground staff is working really, really hard,” said Rauf. “There are a few areas on the outfield that are still wet, and the bowlers’ run-ups are still soft, so we are monitoring the situation.”

The toss has been spun yet, and neither side has disclosed their final 11s for the first of three Tests.