Excellent news - weather permitting, play will resume at 04:15.

That's enough time to get a round of teas in, and have a snack, if you ask me.

Australia's bowlers are limbering up while Steve Smith plays a game of catch with himself. The Super Sopper is whizzing around the outfield. I'd love a go on one of those.

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Remember, whenever you're feeling inspired this winter and want to find out how to get into cricket yourself - we have a very handy guide over here. Oh, and our colleagues at Get Inspired have also produced this wonderful package of some England Test stars playing street cricket. Have a gander...

It's stopped raining!published at 03:52 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

03:52 GMT 23 November 2017

The covers are coming off! Huzzah!

The Australia fielders are all out and warming up, while umpires Aleem Dar and Marais Erasmus march back after inspecting the middle.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at the Gabba

It's raining but the sky is blue. How curious!

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

They say Brisbane is a bit similar to Headingley. It's those balls pitched up that you think you're on top of but can get away from you - you've got to be careful.

Image source, Getty Images

England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, speaking to BT Sport: "We were happy to bat first, it was the right decision. It could have gone the other way for us this morning but to see the guys get into a good rhythm was a good sign for us. We just want to get out there again now."

I'm not having this rain business. Especially not at nearly 4am.

Josh Blackman: I've spent the last two weeks adjusting my sleeping patterns for the Ashes! I can't be dealing with this rain.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at the Gabba

Fairly certain I saw a word between Nathan Lyon and Mark Stoneman as the players left for lunch. If it wasn't friendly, it was one of the few signs of hostility in this morning session. The pitch is slow and the crowd relatively sedate. The Gabbatoir?

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

If this pitch stays slow, England will like that - they enjoy bowling on attritional wickets and dangling the carrot outside off stump.

Graeme Swann, out in the middle, just said it's still "banging it down" at the Gabba. A technical term we can all get on board with.

There's nice blue skies above, though. Shame about the rain that's coming from them.

Cheers, Jack. A solid effort in the face of some adverse conditions.

Right, folks. We're going to power on through this rain break. I'm already yawning so much I'm worried I'm going to do my jaw some damage.

Ugh, right. No immediate sign of play starting in Brisbane unfortunately.

I was hoping to hang on for the resumption but I need some food to help power me on to the close.

I'll hand back over to Amy Lofthouse for what will hopefully be the start of the second session. Catch you later.

Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special

I've been surprised how slow the wicket is. There's not much movement through the air or off the pitch. I think I saw one play and miss in the whole session, which is unusual at the Gabba. It's not going to be a quick wicket.

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Clare Bailey: Oh you're kidding! Just coming home from an awards do in London in the rain and thought I'd catch up on a spot of cricket. It can't surely be raining both sides of the globe?!

Cricket Australia have published a video of Australia's players waiting for the rain to cease. A bit of moisture might liven the pitch up?

Image source, Cricket Australia

It seems like the rain might be easing off in Brisbane.

The white covers are still out, brollies are still up but the skies look clearer.