England have won 14, drawn two and lost one of the last 17 Test matches at Old Trafford, but yeah get rid of it as a venue.

Simon, St Helens

And lo, I mention that it's not raining, and we have an inspection scheduled.

The umpires will have a look at midday.

For the record, it has brightened up a bit in Manchester and it's not currently raining.

I'm not promising no more precipitation, but the rain radars do suggest we should be clear of it by about 12:45 BST.

It's also pretty windy, which should help dry out the ground.

Oh, we're all at it, are we?

Well, I'm sorry to break it to you, but the ECB have announced their 2025 summer schedule this morning, and Old Trafford will host the fourth Test against India in late July.

You can see the full 2025 schedule here.

But looking further ahead, it won't host an Ashes Test in 2027.

England should stop going to Old Trafford. Manchester is just too wet. I still have not forgiven it for the Ashes. Move it brick by brick to sunny Norwich.

Alex

Whilst I’m aware it can rain anywhere, surely there has to be an argument to have less Test match cricket at old Trafford because of the weather. It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last people have seen no cricket here while there’s play elsewhere.

Ben, stuck on the runway at Lisbon airport

This happened at this very ground last year. It's what happens when Test cricket is pushed to the periphery of the summer season and held in the wettest part of the UK. Bravo, ECB.

Eddie F

I mean, I don't wish to quibble, Eddie, but it is mid-August.

We're not exactly in late September here.

I'll be honest, it's not great that I'm comparing myself to ancient deities within the first hour.

Normally we have to wait until the second session for that to happen.

Let's watch a clip of England reducing Sri Lanka to 6-3, get ourselves back on an even keel.

Thinking about it, am I simply the 21st century manifestation of something much more ancient?

In the days of yore, would the people of these isles not turn to the Norse gods, asking them to control the storms?

And now, people turns to yours truly, hoping I can manifest the coming of play at Old Trafford.

It's the same thing, basically.

Thank you, Sebastian.

Some write articles bordering on the poetic, others produce the most sparkling analysis.

I write semi-whimsical posts when it's raining.

I await my Pulitzer Prize.

Good to have our rain delay specialist in Mike Peter at the helm today to get us through a slow morning.

Seb, Manchester

It may be raining in Manchester, but we should get some play in other parts of the country as the County Championship gets going after seven weeks away.

Rocky Flintoff, whose Dad was apparently a cricketer (any good?), is making his first-class debut for Lancashire against Division One leaders Surrey at The Oval.

We've got all eighteen teams in action, you can follow live coverage with us here.

Rain?!? I have had to cancel meetings and avoid calls to be free to follow the cricket this morning...what am I supposed to do now?!

Dan, in an office somewhere

Let's have a chat about day one.

Sri Lanka had a horror start, slipping to 6-3 and then 113-7.

Captain Dhananjaya de Silva added 63 for the eighth wicket with Milan Rathnayake, the seam bowler playing his first Test before departing for 74, and Rathnayake continued to 72, as Sri Lanka were bowled for for 236.

England openers Ben Duckett and Dan Lawrence made 22-0 in four overs of a reply, before bad light stopped play for the day.

Relive all the action in Stephan Shemilt's report.

Image source, Getty Images

Right then, I've consulted all the great meteorologists - Tomasz Schafernaker, Michael Fish, Sylvester Stuart and his weather pinball, they're all agreed.

The rain should slacken off around lunch, then it's just a matter of how swiftly Old Trafford drains.

It hasn't had the greatest record of doing so, but if I've said it once I've said it a thousand times - I believe in the absorptive qualities of the soil of Greater Manchester.

We will have play!

Yes, welcome to our coverage of day two of the first Test between England and Sri Lanka, live from the dictionary definition of dank.

I cycled past the ground half an hour ago and since then the weather has progressed from "you'd play in it, but not go on in it" to "pack up the teas, Trevor, let's go to the pub."

Fortunately, the forecast suggests conditions will be somewhat better by the afternoon, so hopefully we'll get some play today - we'll of course keep you updated with every tiny movement of the covers.

But until then, strap in, it's time for the rollercoaster rain live.

Image source, Getty Images

Folks, you'll never guess what - it's raining in Manchester!