Chris Rogers found a silver lining among the clouds which washed out Middlesex’s County Championship clash with Sussex at Merchant Taylors’ School this week.

The Aussie Test opener, like the rest of his team-mates was left killing time at the boys’ secondary school in Northwood as the match was abandoned without a ball bowled just after lunch on day four.

It was the first time for 15 years Middlesex had lost an entire home game to the weathe r.

However, the Seaxes skipper found a positive among the puddles as with five points awarded to each side Middlesex stayed top of the Division One standings having lost no ground to one of their key rivals for the title.

He said: “It has been a disappointing week, but you can’t beat the weather can you.

“Unfortunately we have not been able to play, but I guess if it was going to happen it is probably good for us it has happened against another quality side who have missed out on points as well.

“Throughout the season there are going to be these moments and we have had six results apart from this game so at some stage there are going to be draws and this was one of them.”

The quest for Championship points continues with a trip to Chester-Le-Street to face Durham on Sunday, but before that the Panthers will look to secure a belated first win of the T20 campaign against Surrey at the Oval tomorrow evening.