Incessant morning rain prevent play starting at the scheduled time of 11am, with England resuming on 114 without loss - a lead of 121.

Chances of a positive result in this match were already extremely slim after India closed to within seven runs of England's first innings 515.

After a further inspection by umpires Asoka de Silva and David Orchard, play was abandoned with heavy rain still pouring and surface water over large areas of the Oval playing surface.

It leaves England unbeaten in the three series they have played against New Zealand, Sri Lanka and India this year as they prepare to announce the 17-man squad for the Ashes tour at Lord's on Tuesday.

It was the first Test match day's play to be completely washed out at The Oval since July 26 1980 against West Indies.

The rain also thwarted Michael Vaughan's attempts to become the first man in Test history to score five hundreds in one English summer.

Yorkshire batsman Vaughan, who scored 195 in the first innings of this fourth and final Test against India, was unbeaten on 47 while opening partner Marcus Trescothick was 58 not out, but neither were given the opportunity to add to those tallies today as rain once again had the final say.