The fickle English weather may have deprived the visitors of vital match practice but the Indians, who have featured in 14 World Cup matches in England so far, have played just one rain-interrupted match in the first three editions.

The only rain-affected match the Indians played was against the West Indies in their opening tie of the 1983 edition on June 9, forcing the game to spill over to the next day. The Indians had won the match by 34 runs which served as a huge morale-booster as they went on to win the coveted cup.

Although there might have been minor weather interruptions in a few other matches, that was the only match involving India which spilled over to the next day.

Despite the unpredictability of English weather, the first edition of the World Cup in 1975 passedoff without the weather playing spoilsport. All the 15 World Cup matches in 1975 were held between June 7-21 when the weather is considered best.

Two of the 15 matches were hit by rain in the subsequent World Cup in 1979, but they did not involve the Indians who lost all their three league ties comprehensively that year.

In 1979, the West Indies-Pakistan clash at the Oval on June 9 was abandoned due to rain while the match between Pakistan and Australia at Nottingham on June 13 spilled over to the next day before Pakistan won by 89 runs.

Weather affected two matches in the last World Cup in England in 1983. Apart from the India-West Indies tie, the one between New Zealand and Pakistan at Birmingham on June 11 went on to the next day because of the elements.

Interestingly, matches scheduled on June 9 have always been hit by the weather. It remains to be seen whether one of the super six matches, scheduled at the Lord's on June 9 this year, would meet a similar fate.

India's campaign to regain theWorld Cup has been badly hampered by rain which has washed out both its official warm-up matches.

The first against Leicestershire on May 7 was washed out after the tourists had scored 219 for seven while the second against Yorkshire at Harrogate on May 9 was abandoned without a ball being bowled.