The last seven Tests to lose the opening day to rain have ended in outright results. The Cricketer looks at how they unfolded.
Work approves your holiday request. The hotel is booked. Your ticket is secure. Your mate from uni is coming down. El vino is flowing. And then it chucks it down. All. Day.
The beauty of cricket is very often the unknown, but many would prefer the uncertainty of the weather to be removed from the lottery of the sport.
Day one of the second Ashes Test, eight days after the end of the game at Edgbaston, England and Australia were left frustrated as the rain tumbled and the covers - bar one break in the clouds - stayed firmly on.
Losing the first day, coupled with the forecast to come, has raised fears this match could be a right-off before it has barely begun, giving Australia a seismic boost in their bid to retain the Ashes.
But on the last seven occasions, the first day of a Test has been lost, a positive result of some kind has been possible. Not since England and the West Indies' clash at Edgbaston in 2012 when three days, including the first two, perished has a draw followed an opening day abandonment.
The Cricketer looks back at how those games unfolded after inclement weather threatened to overshadow proceedings.
Even a whole day lost to the weather couldn't prevent this awful Australia team from losing the third Test of what would eventually be a 4-0 whitewash in India. Captain Michael Clarke got a first-ball duck as the tourists were bowled out for 408. India got a narrow lead of 91 thanks to centuries from Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan.
Ravi Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar took three wickets each to blow the tourists away from just 223, setting MS Dhoni's side 132 to win which they knocked off after tea on day five. In the end, that first-day washout was little more than respite for the Aussies.
The Alastair Cook-led side performed with a clinical cutting edge to produce victory either side of a downpour. With day one eliminated, England played to the situation by putting on 354 in 99 overs, with Joe Root getting to three figures.
New Zealand only needed three days to defeat Pakistan in 2016
Their bowlers followed suit with a devastating display to dismiss New Zealand for just 174 on day three, to give them the opportunity to extend their handsome lead.
Cook led the way with a diligent century to leave the Kiwis needing 468 to win and England four-and-a-half sessions to take 10 wickets. Bad light and three rain breaks gave the tourists hope but Graeme Swann completed a 10-for to secure the win.
Neither side left their hotel room on day one but it was Pakistan who sprang out of the traps once play did begin. Sri Lanka would eventually be made to pay for making exactly 300 in their first innings and taking nearly five sessions to do it.
Pakistan were 96 for 5 but Asad Shafiq hit 131 and Sarafraz Ahedm 96 to give them a 117-run first-innings lead. Yasir Shah then weaved his magic and took seven of his nine wickets in the match in the second innings as the home side set a paltry target of just 90 to win.
Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad knocked them off in 68 balls in the final session to take the lead in the series.
New Zealand didn't need day one, or even day five to wrap up victory over Pakistan, whose box of chocolates performances produced another dud.
A batting line-up including Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq were twice bowled out for less than 200 in what was an embarrassing display in Christchurch. The gentle Colin de Grandhomme took six wickets in that disastrous first innings, which really set the tone.
Kane Williamson's side were not perfect themselves having been bowled out for 200 but the seam trio of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner ensured that slight lead was enough. The hosts won by eight wickets just after lunch on day four with four full sessions remaining.
The first two days in Wellington last March were lost to rain - but New Zealand were still able to prevail
What was meant to be Ireland's big arrival was a washout in more ways than one, as their first day as a Test nation was lost to rain.
Pakistan were in no mood to give the minnows a foot-up in pursuit of an opening win and after declaring on 310 for 9 the hosts were skittled for just 130.
Following on, Ireland made a much better stab of things and thanks to Kevin O'Brien's century they set Pakistan 160 to win on day five.
Ireland did take five wickets but half-centuries for Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam took the tourists home with a session to spare.
Another game that despite day one being lost, day five was not required as the Dukes ball caused havoc for India's brittle batsmen.
Day two was as stop-start as they come after three sessions had been lost 24 hours previous. Nevertheless, James Anderson took 5-20 as India were dismissed for 107 inside 36 overs.
Chris Woakes struck a maiden Test century and Jonny Bairstow hit 93 to give England a handsome lead having declared on 396 for 7.
India were cannon-fodder thereafter and after Vijay completed his pair they mustered just 130 as Anderson finished with nine wickets.
Lord's was submerged last summer when India visited
The second Test from a tour remembered for more than just the cricket which was played began with the first two days being lost to rain.
Bangladesh, already trailing 1-0, were caught cold and were dismissed for just 211 on day three. Kane Williamson had been given extra time to allow a shoulder problem to heal but his 74 was eclipsed by a double century for Ross Taylor and hundred for Henry Nicholls.
The Tigers has a thankless task and hopes of grinding out a draw lasted just 56 overs as in the seventh session of the game Boult and Wagner combined to bundle them out for just 209.
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