SOMERSET'S bid to get their 2019 County Championship campaign off to a winning start has suffered a blow, with the first day of their match with Kent washed out.

Heavy overnight rain meant a delayed start in Taunton, with a pitch inspection due to take place at 11.30am, but more rain arrived from the south to scupper that plan.

As rain continued to fall, the prospects for any play at all on Friday looked bleak, and spectators began heading home as large puddles started to form.

Umpires Rob Bailey and Richard Illingworth then decided to abandon play at 1.45pm with the outfield saturated.

The weather forecast for tomorrow (Saturday) is better, and play is scheduled to begin at 11am, but with a maximum of three days to force a result against Kent, Somerset look to be up against it in terms of getting that precious winning start.

It also means that Jack Brooks must wait to make his Somerset debut, and Kent's Matt Renshaw to face the team he played for with distinction last season.