Rain disrupts England bid

England's plan to polish off the West Indies and then make swift progress with the bat was put on hold at a grey and drizzly Old Trafford today.

A see-saw opening to the Third Test ended with the visitors looking anxious on 275 for six and Michael Vaughan's team in control again.

Thanks to two wickets in mid-afternoon from Andrew Flintoff and a late double strike by Matthew Hoggard, England remained on course for their sixth consecutive victory of the summer and a third series triumph this year.

Manchester and its districts have shown an indifference to Test cricket in recent years.

Today, though, all 17,500 tickets had been sold well in advance, a response to England's recent success, making this morning's delayed start even more disappointing.