Alastair Cook's anguish at rain pain Down Under

England were cursing their luck for the second successive day Down Under after rain again prevented any play in their clash with Australia A.

Several hours of rain and then wet bowlers’ run-ups took its toll on captain Alastair Cook (above, today) who remained stranded on 154 not out with Michael Carberry (153no).

Batting coach Graham Gooch summed up the mood among the players, saying: “I don’t think it’s the sort of climatic conditions we expect when you come here.

“You want to get out and play. You want to show what you can do and get your game in good order, with big matches coming up.”

Prospects look better for the final day in Hobart tomorrow but rain is forecast in Sydney next week, where England play an Australia Invitational XI in their final warm-up game before the First Test starts in Brisbane on November 21. While Gooch and co’s on-field preparations have been curtailed by the weather, England have left nothing to chance away from the action.

They have sent an 82-page health-conscious Ashes menu, the details of which have been leaked to the Aussie media, to all Test grounds.