The surroundings are idyllic with magnificent mountain scenery, but the only sight-seeing the England top order were doing was back in the pavilion.

After 25 overs, England were 67/5. Andrew Flintoff was 14 not out and Craig White two not out. And by the drinks break things had deteriorated even more to 78/6. White six not out and Warren Hegg four not out.

The under-rated Otago bowling attack was completely on top and at one stage England lost five wickets for 23 runs.

Craig Pryor and left-armer David Sewell were introduced as the first change bowlers by captain Craig Cumming and had an almost instant effect bowling a full length and getting good reward.

Whereas fast men Kerry Walmsley and James McMillan caused few problems with their superior pace, Pryor and Sewell were dynamic. Sewell had a seven over spell which resulted in two wickets for nine runs, with five maidens bowled.

Pryor, working up good pace, had three for 29 from his eight overs.

Mark Butcher was first to go, off the last ball of Pryor's first over when he was trapped leg before wicket and out for 20 scored off 50 balls. He had been loosening up and played two fine cover drives, one each off the front and back feet. His wicket fell at 32.

Graham Thorpe was quickly into action and looked set to provide some action, as witnessed by a pull shot of malice which produced four runs.

But no sooner had he settled in than he lost opener and captain Marcus Trescothick when he was caught by Pryor at first slip from Sewell's bowling. He had laboured 32 balls over his six runs and England were 39/2.

A rain break was taken immediately afterwards, for 25 minutes.

Thorpe and Mark Ramprakash worked the bowling around and saw the 50 up before second slip Nathan McCullum took an absolute screamer of a catch at second slip, just above his eye level. The ball was going very quickly but he held it well and sent Thorpe back for 11, scored off 18 balls. England were 51/3.

Moments later Ramprakash's first innings of the tour was over as he was bowled by Pryor for one, scored from 27 balls, the wicket cartwheeling out of the ground.

Then to complete England's misery, Usman Afzaal edged a ball from Pryor straight to wicket-keeper Duncan Drew before he had scored.

England were 55/5 and had lost three wickets in 10 balls.

McMillan returned for his second spell and in his second over back he had Flintoff out, from a poor shot. He attempted to help the ball over the slips cordon but succeeded only in edging to wicket-keeper Drew to be out for 16 scored from 20 balls.

Hours of play have been changed to two two hour 35 minute sessions with a minimum of 75 overs in the day.

Otago won the toss and put England in to bat.

Conditions are still damp but there has been enough drying to allow a start to be made. However, the sunshine that has helped the drying process has been replaced by cloud and there is a cool southerly breeze across the ground.

Otago left Rob Smith out of their playing XI.

Umpires for the game are Steve Dunne (Otago) and Evan Watkin (Wellington).

The teams are:

England: Marcus Trescothick (captain), Mark Butcher, Mark Ramprakash, Graham Thorpe, Usman Afzaal, Andrew Flintoff, Craig White, Warren Hegg, James Ormond, Andrew Caddick, Richard Dawson.

Otago: Craig Cumming (captain), Simon Beare, Duncan Drew, Chris Gaffaney, Robbie Lawson, Brendon McCullum, James McMillan, Nathan Morland, Craig Pryor, David Sewell, Rob Smith, Kerry Walmsley.

The perfect conditions of yesterday with the ground bathed in sunshine as England prepared beneath the spectacular Remarkables mountain range were replaced by a soggy outfield which is not expected to see a start to play before lunch.

The main area of concern is the area at the southern end of the pitch block which is very damp. Water is being raked off it by ground staff and into drains.

The England squad took advantage of a soccer ground out the back of the main oval to have an impromptu game of soccer.

Overhead conditions are cloudy but with the sun breaking through intermittently. There is little if any breeze while the cooler conditions are reflected in snow on the tops of the Remarkables that wasn't there yesterday.

The latest opinion is that play will possibly start at 1pm with an early lunch being taken at 12.15pm.

The umpires for today's game are Steve Dunne and Evan Watkin.