England, in case you need reminding, were 83-5 before Alex Hales was joined by Jonny Bairstow. 88 runs later and they have been dragged back into the day. The rest of the batting? Not great. Debutant Dasun Shanaka ripped through the top order with three wickets on his Test debut, helped by a couple of poor shots from Alastair Cook and Joe Root.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"The Bairstow decision could be a big turning point for England. He knew he was out of his crease."

Hmmm, might England be disappointed not to have batted after tea? Bairstow and Hales were going well before the break. Now, Sri Lanka will come fresh in the morning.

Well then, there you have it. Play has been abandoned for the day - the rain has won. England close on 171-5. Not great, but much better than it could have been.

Prashant Kumar: Is there anything more English than spending a rainy summer day reading BBC cricket updates?

I like this, Sam. Cricket-ball throws as a unit of measurement. How far is one?

Sam Jobson: The Fentiman Arms - best pub south of the river and just 3 cricket ball throws away from the Oval.

Ever played table cricket? The Test Match board game? Armchair cricket perhaps? Have a listen as Stumped reporter Hannah Sander visits a Lord's exhibition of cricket games before Alison Mitchell and the team have a good old nostalgia-fest about the games of their youth.

What were your favourite cricket games?

Ally Reid: Hannover Arms the best pub next to the Oval, The Kennington also good.

Ewan Mackenzie Smith: Fentiman Arms 5 minute walk from Oval. Brilliant beer garden and serious burgers.

Tom Fordyce
Chief sports writer at Headingley

"Looking grimmer with each passing minute in Leeds, the earlier brightness fading into mist and clouds all around. With further covers being dragged on and the hills in the near distance obscured by incoming fug, we could be looking at the end of play for this first day."

Speaking of Surrey, what are the best pubs near The Oval? The terrace on that ground, just next door to the media centre, is a brilliant place for beer and cricket. 

Breaking off slightly from the pubs near cricket grounds chat, have a look at this from Surrey's Jason Roy. More specifically, listen to the sound of the ball coming off the bat. It's like someone is firing a gun.

Image source, PA

More covers coming on at Headingley. Pretty soon the entire outfield will be under those green sheets. Gaps in the clouds seem to be getting filled by more clouds.

Jonny has taken it up a notch there, a pub that is actually in the field of play. If your pub happens to be across the road from the pitch, you're not close to winning this one.