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Have you ever wondered why cricket is not played in the rain?

There are a number of reasons for it, including player safety and the damage rain can cause to both the ball and the playing surface.

You can read all about it in our explainer here

Your friend and mine Matthew Henry is also on duty today but given the latest update he's just had from a mate of his in Auckland, you may not have pleasure of reading his fine words this morning.

His friend has left the ground and headed for the nearest public house because there is "no chance" of any play.

Still, you never know...

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Australia are turning the screw. India have lost another three wickets with Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy falling to leave the tourists 226-8 with five overs to go.

Adam Zampa has 3-41 and seamer Xavier Bartlett 3-32.

You can listen to commentary of that one courtesy of our friends at ABC in Australia here

It's still rainingpublished at 08:05 BST

08:05 BST

A quick update to say that it is still raining at Eden Park.

It still looks pretty grim out there. Not the heaviest rain but it's falling steadily so the wait goes on...

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World champions South Africa, meanwhile, are closing in on victory in the second Test in Pakistan.

Day four began with the hosts 94-4 in their third innings, leading by just 23 after the Proteas took a first-innings lead.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were at the crease but Babar was out in the first over of the day and Pakistan were bowled out for 138, losing 6-44 on the fourth morning. Essex's Simon Harmer finished with 6-50.

That left South Africa needing only 68 to draw the series and they have calmly moved to 56-0.

Scorecard

I think safety is the main issue, Anon, and a wet ball slipping out of the bowlers' hands probably isn't going to make for a great spectacle either.

We're always hearing about proposals for enormous roofs to cover stadiums and there was the famous mesh canopy proposal to cover Lord's that would have been lifted into by a hot air balloon.

Maybe that is the solution...?

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There's international cricket happening elsewhere in the world.

Over in Adelaide, India are batting first in their second ODI against Australia.

Virat Kohli was out for a duck again - the first time he has been dismissed without scoring in consecutive innings in his ODI career - and India have been further checked with three wickets since the 30th over.

Rohit Sharma struggled at first but scrapped for 73 but since he fell India have gone from 135-2 to 180-5 after 38 overs.

Scorecard

Erm, yeah. This doesn't bode well.

There have been weather warnings for central and south regions of New Zealand today due to high winds and heavy rain.

It seems the north is not getting away scot-free either...

Bad news. The rain has got a bit heavier and another cover is being put on and pegged down by the groundstaff.

Less than ideal.

The rain doesn't look too bad, thankfully.

Players from both sides are staying around the boundary edge, hopeful of a quick resumption, but the umbrellas remain up in the crowd for now.

Rain stops playpublished at 0.3 overs

0.3 overs

NZ 8-0

What was I saying about that weather forecast?

Just three balls into the innings and a flurry of rain forces the players off.

Let's hope it's just a passing shower and they're back out there shortly.

Swing for Luke Wood first ball but it's a touch full and onto the pads of Tim Seifert.

Just a flick of the wrists from the New Zealand opener and he times it beautifully through mid-wicket for four.

Here come the teams and the good news is that despite some pretty dreadful weather across New Zealand today, it is dry at Eden Park.

Apparently there is some rain forecast for later but it's not due to arrive until this game should be done and dusted - so let's hope that forecast is right.

New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy

England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (c), Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Jordan Cox, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner: "It was a shame first game, I thought we bowled really well to restrict and then next game the pitch was flatter. The intent the guys showed in the chase was good.

“We’ll see what this pitch does, it can be flat here."

England captain Harry Brook: "The best sides have to be able to do both [bat or bowl first]. Coming to a ground like this with small boundaries and our batting line-up we back ourselves to chase."

Harry Brook wins the toss and England fancy a chase in Auckland.

The visitors are unchanged while New Zealand make change to their XI with all-rounder Zak Foulkes replacing Kyle Jamieson.

The Ashes may now be less than a month away but England have got white-ball business in New Zealand to deal with first.

Harry Brook's side are looking to wrap up a T20 series win in Auckland today after an impressive 65-win in a couple of days ago.

So without any further ado, let's get to the news from the toss...