Rain has thwarted England's hopes of making quick progress with the bat on the third day of the first npower Test against New Zealand at Lord's.

England's first innings belatedly resumed 25 minutes late as a result of bad weather and when things did get going it was once again in murky conditions.

And it took 13 balls for England to add to their overnight 68 without loss and Alastair Cook got off the mark for the day in the fourth over of the morning.

Four wickets for Ryan Sidebottom on Friday resulted in the demise of New Zealand for 277.

England crawled to 89 for no wicket in reply at lunch - which proved to the be last action of the day.

Play was officially abandoned shortly after 5pm, but because less that ten overs were played, spectators are entitled to a full refund.

Meanwhile it has emerged that swing bowler Matthew Hoggard has been ruled out of England's squad for the second Test against after fracturing his thumb.

Selectors said Hoggard, who was left out of the final XI for the first test at Lord's, was struck on the thumb by Steve Harmison playing for Yorkshire against Durham on Friday.

Both players were dropped after the first test loss to New Zealand in Hamilton this year although Hoggard was included in a 12-man squad for the first two tests of the return series.

The second test starts at Old Trafford next Friday.