Have your say on England men this summer

Live Reporting

by Ffion Wynne

  1. The covers are off. I promise.

  2. Okay, they're going to start at 14:20.

    Theoretically.

  3. Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport cricket correspondent at Lord's

    Tell you what, let's just assume they aren't playing until they absolutely definitely are.

  4. Exhilarating stuff, this.

  5. Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport cricket correspondent at Lord's

    The Pakistan team have stayed out there. Brollies are down. The covers are going back off.

  6. Wait...

  7. Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport cricket correspondent at Lord's

    Covers coming back on.

  8. Ah. Guess what?

  9. So, England will resume on 81-3, a lead of 261.

    Considering how Pakistan have batted so far in the series, you could probably say that's already enough.

    How long will Joe Root keep his batters out there?

  10. Thanks, Mike.

    As our specialist rain delay correspondent, we'll keep him on standby for when the next inevitable downpour comes.

  11. Play to start at 14:15 BST

    Scrap that, we've now been issued another start time!

    If there's no further rain play will start at 14:15 BST with the following schedule:

    First session: 14:15 - 16:40 Tea: 16:40 - 17:00 Evening session: 17:00 - 19:00

    And with play at risk of breaking out, I'm going to hand you over to Ffion Wynne because I am only really good for coverage of the movement of plastic sheeting.

  12. Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport cricket correspondent at Lord's

    Here we go. New start time is 14:15.

  13. So with the groundstaff playing the hokey-cokey with the covers, we're back on a holding pattern.

    Hopefully we'll get news of another inspection soon.

    We'll keep you updated with any news from Lord's but are going to wind back our other posts for a while.

    Here's some highlights from yesterday to keep you going in the meantime.

    Highlights: England enjoy another dominant day to close in on series win

  14. Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport cricket correspondent at Lord's

    The 1400 start has been delayed, but the covers are coming back off and the players are still out there warming up.

  15. Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Some umbrellas have appeared and the hover cover is back on. It doesn't look like heavy rain but it is enough rain.

  16. Play to start at 14:00 BST

    My word, we'll have play!

    I'll be honest, when I saw the forecast for today I didn't think we'd have any chance of play at all on day three.

    But the umpires say we're good to go, so after a bit more mopping up from the groundstaff we'll be under way in just under half an hour.

  17. Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport cricket correspondent at Lord's

    England's coaching staff have emerged, Pakistan's players are out kicking a football around. Encouraging. Just as I say that, a start time is announced.

  18. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on Test Match Special

    I said last night that this Pakistan batting line-up is not one to judge your bowlers against, but when you look at the team, you can only beat what's in front of you and they're dominating this series.

  19. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special

    Things are happening. I am not saying it is the end of the rain because it isn't but we might get lucky.

  20. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on Test Match Special

    I think the key to the four pace bowlers is the opening bowler, Ollie Robinson, because you look back to the winter and we were crying out for a tone setter.

    Brydon Carse is a great all-rounder but Australia were getting off to a flying start with him. Consistency, whether you're going out with an opening batting pair or bowling pair that can get you off to a flyer.

    I look at Ollie Robinson and I trust that first over will be a decent first over just to get into the Test match.