The prospects are bleak for much, if any, play on the opening day of New Zealand's first test against Pakistan at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
The rain which arrived about 6.45am settled in and alternated between steady drizzle and brief, heavy showers through the morning.
Ground staff tried to keep the rain off the covers and there was a solid, drying wind blowing across the ground. There was a sense of urgency about the efforts during the lunch break as the rain stopped and a watery sun tried to break through.
The teams had not arrived at the ground and there had been no sign of the umpires, other than a brief excursion to the middle to talk to ground staff.
The test will be the first between the countries since late 2014, when they shared a three-match series in the United Arab Emirates.
