There's going to be a toss, finally! Joe Root and Steve Smith are out in the middle.

Penny Barr: Covers are off, and it’s looking a bit brighter, from the Trumper Stand! We have taken an early lunch of chips and wine.

Well, Steve Smith's ready.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Sydney

Spotted on the staircase that leads to the TMS box. So many questions.

Image source, BBC Sport

Paddy Gearey, one of our TV colleagues out in Australia, has just been telling me that he was attacked by a parrot in Melbourne.

If only we'd had the cameras on then we could have made a new Youtube sensation.

This was the scene in Sydney not so long since. Luckily it's a bit less grim now.

Image source, PA

Max, London

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

I always expect there to be something for the bowlers in the first session at Sydney. Once you get through that session, it tends to get much easier to bat on.

Naturally, they've taken lunch when the sky is the brightest it's been all day. Cricket.

I have news!

They've taken an early lunch in Sydney. If there's no further rain, the toss will be at 01:10, with play set to start at 01:40.

Perfect time for a power nap.

There are people milling about on the SCG outfield and a few of the umbrellas have been put down. The umpires and groundstaff are having a brief consult.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

England fall in love with leg-spinners then fall out of love with them quickly because they can't contain and get hit for runs. England love Mason Crane now. It will be interesting to see if they still love him in two to three games.

Meanwhile, in 2011 time, Michael Beer has just dismissed Alastair Cook for his maiden Test wicket - but it's a no-ball!

Where have we seen that recently?

John in Nibley

Dan Norcross
BBC Test Match Special

The covers are coming off! Again!

We'll have to wait to find out what the umpires are doing about the toss and the start of play.

Image source, Getty Images

It's rainingpublished at 00:34 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2018

00:34 GMT 4 January 2018

For those of you wondering why we're banging on about series past, it's because it's been raining in Sydney.

We've not had the toss - it was rescheduled for midnight, before the rain intervened - and it's all a bit stop-start at the minute.

Adam Collins
Test Match Special commentator

Cameron Bancroft is the one in the Australia line-up under the most pressure for his place. It could end up in a George Bailey situation - who played all five Test in 2013-14 and was never seen again.

Usman Khawaja is not under the same pressure. He's proven class at international level - no one is questioning whether he can do it against South Africa and beyond, it's just disappointment he hasn't made big score this series.

That 2010-11 series was ridiculous, wasn't it?

It always felt like someone was going to score big runs for England. You don't feel that these days.

Dom

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

There are people who get into positions of authority in English cricket that are idealistic about leg-spinners. But when it comes to picking them - they are not so keen then.