BBC Test Match Special

Test Match Special's 'Ask the Umpire' is back, with John Holder in conversation with Jonathan Agnew today.

We'll bring you some of the best bits in case you missed it, while we wait for play to get under way.

Image source, Getty Images

Ben, age 11 going to see his first Test match tomorrow: We have tickets to day three and yesterday we were wondering if we were going to get to see any play. Hopefully the rain delay means we get to see England bat.

Anonymous: Brought my teenage daughter to the cricket for the first time today... except we're currently waiting the rain out at the Trafford Centre. If it doesn't stop soon I'm going bankrupt! Send sunshine.

Get yourselves on the tram, Mr or Mrs Anonymous!

Play in half an hour!

Sight of the players warming up! There's a Sri Lankan player doing some hamstring sweeps out by the square.

And hello, a start time too.

They'll get going at 13:15 BST - we did it folks, and we all remained friends too.

You've asked, we've delivered.

Here's the stats for percentage of days lost, based on the ground. It confirms Southampton at the top of rain charts - albeit they were hit by a rainy summer in 2020 when they hosted three Tests thanks to Covid.

Quirks of the graphics mean Trent Bridge has slipped off the bottom - they've lost two days from 14 Tests.

A little bit of news, the players are taking an early lunch at 12:30 BST.

Another little bit of news, I am not.

Oh well.

BBC Test Match Special

Sorry to interrupt the rain delay chat momentarily - but if you're looking to listen to Test Match Special from overseas, click here for today's YouTube link., external

Rain chat can now continue...

Eddie F: You can't use the Lord's stat as there are two Test matches every year. I stand corrected on the others, though! We are just annoyed that the Ashes were lost here last year!

Agreed, Eddie - you have to factor in the two Tests a year at Lord's, it's actually got a pretty good record.

Southampton has had pretty horrible luck, given they've only hosted seven Tests in that time.

James, Altrincham: RE 12:06 - isn't it ridiculous that we play cricket at Lord's when it rains so much.

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Mark, ex headteacher, Cornwall: Mike, as a Norse deity gazing down on the debate, I suggest you use the time to brush up on your use (11.31) of double negatives in not promising no more precipitation.

Mark, as a Norse deity, I have the power to shape the English language to my will.

Right, we've got the official data from CricViz.

Since 2006, here's the number of days with under 45 overs bowled, by ground:

• Lord's - 10
• Southampton - 10
• Edgbaston - 7
• Old Trafford - 6
• Headingley - 5
• Oval - 5
• Chester-le-Street - 3

(excluding days where a result has been reached)

Graham (now in the South): Having lived in Manchester, the problem isn't necessarily the amount of rain, more the fact that a period of rain means several days of endless grey drizzle rather than a quick downpour you might get elsewhere.

I'd agree with this, for what it's worth.

It's pretty rare I have to get the wet weather gear out for the ride to work, but it's grey a lot of the time.

I think Old Trafford would be the ideal test bed for a ‘Dome’. Guaranteed cricket from late March to early October, what’s not to like?

Wilf, Winchester

As long as it can extend over my house too, Wilf.

I've got a broken roof tile and I can't be bothered to get a quote to fix it.

Thomas, Ashby de la Zouch: With day four tickets almost in the bin at 11:25am yesterday, a slightly shorter days play today is fine by me.

For the record, the super-soppers are currently soaking up the water on the plastic sheeting covering the square.

I'll keep you updated with anything else we can spot.

If a member of ground staff opens a flask of tea, that news is going in the live.

All hail Mike Peters.

Tim, at a desk in Kidderminster

Tim, I appreciate a follower, but if you pluralise my surname again we're going to have words...

I'll acknowledge that Ewan and our anonymous poster (Michael Fish in disguise, probably) haven't cited their papers here, but I'm all for it.

I've started a big fight, and I'm now going to hover above it like the Norse deity that I am.

Can we please dispel the myth that Manchester is the wettest city in the UK? According to research, it's not even in the top 10 - cities such as Leeds, Cardiff, Plymouth and Glasgow all get more rainfall.

Ewan, Stockport

Here’s the historical average number of days when rain occurs in late August for the main Test locations. It’s a myth that it rains a lot more in Manchester.Manchester: 13-15 daysLeeds: 12-14 daysBirmingham: 11-13 daysNottingham: 11-13 daysLondon: 10-12 days

Anonymous

Get a grip anti-Manc people.. it's a rain front passing over the UK. Rest of today looks good and the remaining days look clear..Big coat not.required.

Phil. Pennines

To all the people complaining about the rain in Manchester - current rain radar suggests it is raining across large parts of the country... There is currently no play in the county championship at Edgbaston, Southampton, Middlesex, or Yorkshire either...

Anonymous

Remember to sign your texts, folks!