KENT’S Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy tie in Bristol was washed out without a ball being bowled after heavy morning rain in the West Country left the Nevil Road outfield awash.

Umpires Roy Palmer and John Steele made a cursory inspection at 9.45am and decided there would be no play before lunch.

They inspected again at 1.45pm and, with water squelching up over their shoes, soon called the game off with the award of one point apiece.

Kent hope to return to action when they are scheduled to take on Shane Warne's Hampshire at the Rose Bowl from Wednesday.

Pace bowlers Amjad Khan and Robbie Joeseph will hope to be in contention for the four-day game after injury.