They will be clearing the covers and we have just under half an hour to wait before South Africa begin their second innings.

Image source, Getty Images

A friend of mine was in town on Saturday and he Whatsapped me saying, "I'm fangirling."

Didn't know what to make of it at first, but he explained he was having steak and chips at a restaurant in Manchester. On the table beside him were Moeen Ali and Hashim Amla, AKA The Beard Gang.

Anyway, if you were to have dinner with any cricketer, who would it be and why?

Let me know using #bbccricket, external or text in on 81111 (UK only).

Matthew Hinchliffe: Patches of blue sky and bright white clouds just up the road in Crumpsall.

Not good news, I'm afraid.

Full covers are on and it is absolutely hammering it down.

Spectators have taken cover in the concourses at Old Trafford.

Does not look too bad, does it?

Meanwhile, have a look at how the England innings was wrapped up...

Rain stops playpublished at 11:24 British Summer Time 7 August 2017

11:24 BST 7 August 2017

Just as England make their way onto the pitch, the heavens have opened.

Umpire Aleem Dar stands in the middle and looks around Old Trafford as the rain lashes down onto his luscious beard.

The umbrellas go up around the stands.

We may have a long delay, folks.

Image source, Getty Images

So Jack on Twitter says...

"Another headless chicken shot from Broad with a batsman set.Get the single, get off strike and let Ali tee off. Needs to wake up."

Agree or disagree?

Judge for yourself by hitting the play button below.

Image source, Getty Images

Our colleagues Josh Hunt and Kalika Mehta are up and running with day two of their County Championship live text. We have radio commentary of every match too.

You can find them over here.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

It's exactly what South Africa would have wanted. Well bowled Morne Morkel, he's bowled fantastically for South Africa this series with little reward, but a couple of cheap ones there will put a smile on his face. England in a dominant position, South Africa will be under pressure.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

It doesn't look like there is express pace out there. Rabada just seems like he's going through the motions, just getting himself eased into his bowling. He seems very slow.

South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis, sunglasses on, claps his hands and barks instructions as he tries to rally the troops.

It has not helped Rabada though, as the brilliance of Moeen Ali sees the bearded genius whip one away to the boundary.

To be fair, it was not a bad delivery, but Moeen is seeing it like a beach ball at the moment.

Jimmy Anderson is the last man in for England, and tucks one away to square leg to get off the mark.

Will he be able to hang around long enough for a Moeen century?

Kotch, London

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Obviously the instructions from the dressing room were to get along at a decent rate. He actually middled that quite nicely.

Image source, Getty Images

Paul Cotterill: Going to hammer it down tomorrow, so I'd give Moeen 6 overs max to get his ton then call them in.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

The brew machine in the dressing rooms must not be up to much. Jonny Bairstow comes to the media floor for a hot drink, complete with heavy strapping on his little finger. "It's fine. Just a keeping injury".

Lovely start for England. Broad leans into a wide Rabada delivery and carresses the first ball of the day for four.

Another.

This time it is given as leg-byes, splitting second slip and gully. Infuriating for Rabada, who chomps angrily on his chewing gum.

Moeen moves on to 70 not out with a clip off the pads. How long before he resumes his fireworks?