THE first day of Essex’s LV County Championship game against Leicestershire at Grace Road was abandoned at lunchtime without a ball being bowled.

Heavy rain throughout the morning left umpires Steve Garratt and John Holder with little option but to call off play, with the outfield saturated and the square totally covered as the rain continued to fall.

Leicestershire expect to be unchanged from the side that collected their first championship win of the season a week ago, while Essex have Hashim Amla continuing to deputise as the overseas player for Danish Kaneria.

Meanwhile, Grant Flower has signed a one-year contract extension with Essex, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2010 season.

Flower, 38, has been with Essex since 2005 and has featured heavily in the club’s one-day successes in recent years.

His finest moment came in last season’s Friends Provident Trophy Final at Lord’s when he played a match-winning innings to help Essex beat Kent.

Coach Paul Grayson said: “I am delighted that Grant is staying with us for another season.

“He consistently offers us so much in one-day cricket and also with the Second XI.

“Grant is one of the best professionals I have worked with at Essex and is a highly respected member of the squad.”