New Zealand's perfect start at the Cricket World Cup has been washed out, and one of their star players is less than pleased. 

The Black Caps' 16-year wait to play India in a World Cup match rolls on, with their clash at Nottingham's Trent Bridge called off at 3.00pm, after a frustrating day where the covers came and went from the ground with exasperating regularity.

After a morning free of rain, the wicket was uncovered for the first time all week, revealing a brown pitch in good shape, but as soon as the players wandered out to get a glimpse at it, the covers came back on as the rain resumed.

Having started the tournament with three wins from games, against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, this was meant to be New Zealand's big test against a top side.

The Black Caps had delayed naming their side until they got to see the conditions, but fans were left none the wiser about what their XI would have been, as the players never even got to start their warm-ups on the field, nor was the toss taken.

The pitch was never the issue either, with the sodden conditions underfoot after multiple days of rain leaving the umpires concerned about player safety.

A pitch inspection at 10.30 became a look at 11.30, before a gander at 12.30, a peek at 1.30, a squizz at 2.30 and a final verdict at 3.00, each time returning with the same result – the ground was not ready for play.

As showers came and went and the groundstaff dragged the covers on and off for the umpteenth time, finally, after nearly five hours of waiting, the match was abandoned and the points were shared.

Batsman Ross Taylor told Mike Hosking that there is some frustration over the fact they missed out. 

"It's been not necessarily just the game, but the preparation indoors for about four days straight. It's disappointing not to get out on the field to get two points, but one point [works] nonetheless."

He says that he was confident they could have won against India, as they did well in the warm-up match.

Taylor thinks that the weather could still affect some games, but says that they were expecting this. 

"It is the UK at the end of the day. It's a beautiful country but not one famous for its weather." 

The Black Caps still sit on seven points through four games, remaining unbeaten atop the ladder, and are now in a strong position to make the semifinals. They likely only need to win two, though perhaps three, of their final five games to earn a semifinal spot – with their upcoming matches against South Africa, West Indies and Pakistan likely to be the decisive clashes.

Taylor says they are happy with the seven points, but they did have the benefit of facing easier teams. 

"We know we've got bigger and harder opposition to come."

They're set to have a full squad to pick from for those games as well, with Tim Southee and Henry Nicholls fully fit, and both will make strong cases to be included to play South Africa on Wednesday in Birmingham.

They would have been a good chance to play today, but New Zealand's 16-year Indian World Cup drought has been extended, in the ultimate irony, by the rain.