Heavy overnight rain and more during the morning washed out any play in the first session of the LV= Championship, first division match between Hampshire and Middlesex at the Ageas Bowl.
Umpires Rob Bailey and Ian Gould were left with the formality of a decision as pools of water formed on the covers surrounding the wicket and on the outfield.
A forecast predicting an improvement in the weather raised optimism that the match could resume later in the day.
Hampshire, who were put in by Middlesex new captain James Franklin, were 295 for five at the close of the first day built around half-centuries from Jimmy Adams, Michael Carberry and Will Smith.
Smith reached his in the final over of the day from James Harris who statistically was Middlesex's most successful bowler with figures of two for 91.
