Joe Root - or is it Draco Malfoy with his new mop - is emerging for some throw downs.

We have had word that play will begin at 12:30 BST.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Emirates Old Trafford

What Archer's absence does mean is England are in a real muddle over the fast bowlers.

Are they picking their best side, rotating because of workload and lack of preparation, adjusting to conditions, or building towards Australia? If these had been the first two Ashes Tests, you suspect they would have been approached very differently.

The one man who would have played both Tests is out and Ollie Robinson, probably no more than seventh choice a week ago, could get a debut.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special

My hunch is that it will be Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran with Ollie Robinson missing out.

On Monday we asked you to pick your England XI for this Test. We gave you the option of picking from the 13-man squad and reserves that were named for the first Test at Southampton last week.

Like England you opted for Zak Crawley to bat at three over Joe Denly. Crawley was in 92% of teams while Denly made just 8.5% of teams.

You also wanted Ben Foakes (52%) to take the gloves off Jos Buttler - that's a change that we know won't happen with Buttler keeping his place in the squad.

Ollie Robinson, who could make his England debut today, featured in less than 2% of teams.

Obviously, in the days since it had become clear neither Archer or Anderson will play.

Image source, BBC Sport

Alastair Cook
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

We are 150 yards away but that pitch doesn't look like there will be much to encourage seam bowlers!

We've just had first sight of the pitch after the big cover was rolled away.

It was only a view from a distance but it looks like a road!

It looks the type of pitch you'd want two 90mph bowlers on.

Alastair Cook
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

You can see what England have been trying to do. They suddenly had two bowlers bowling at 90mph and now they are both not going to play and you're back to the old-same in a must-win game. It must have been a long morning for Chris Silverwood already.

Very good, Mr Saint. England's decision at the toss surprised a few last week. I wonder if they'll fancy a bowl this morning.

5am Saint: Plenty of cloud cover. Win the toss & bat?

The covers are now being taken from the field.

It'll take a while for the field to dry but this is promising.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

We've actually got movement in a couple of directions. Some of players are moving towards the pavillion and hotel that we're staying but more importantly the groundsman are moving onto the pitch from the left-hand side of the ground. This is a good sign.

I have good news. It is brightening up in Manchester. When I arrived at work you couldn't see the tops of the tallest buildings but the clouds are rising now.

There is activity on the outfield.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

I'm led to believe that Phil Neale sent a WhatsApp group message to the England players just before 7:50am this morning saying 'I need to see you all' before the news about Jofra Archer got out at 8am. I think one or two of them didn't see it because they were fast asleep and woke up about 8:30-8:45 and were like 'eh what's going on here?'. It's the right call, though.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

They put the trust in the player and 99.9% of the people involved have done the right thing. Unfortunately, we always talk about one mistake that could break a little bit of relaxation for ball the team. Everything will become more strict.

There is one positive.

We have an England cricket captain wearing a zigzag Alice band.

It's very 2002 David Beckham.

Image source, PA Media

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Emirates Old Trafford

A few are making the point about England being transported by bus. It's probably not beyond the wit of man to find a solution to this, but it might not be practical to ask players from all over the country to meet somewhere, then ask them to go back to the same place in order to drive home.

Carlos Brathwaite
West Indies all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

For me, as a personal friend, I'm disappointed, not only in what Jofra's done, but the scrutiny you get from the media. There has been talk before about his attitude and his laissez-faire way of going about things, which often discredits what he does on the field.

I just want to see his cricket do the talking, more than the concerns - which I think are misplaced - about his character. His tweeting, his social media, his quirky posts: that is Jofra Archer.

As a cricketer myself, there are things outside of cricket that people would not agree with. People look to cricketers to set examples in life. He's not there for your son or daughter to look up to. He's there to live his life and do what he does best.

That said, it does not excuse what he does. It's disappointing for me, as a personal friend, the backlash he will get.

The England players made their own way from Southampton to Manchester.

If you have listened to the latest Tailenders you'll know Jimmy Anderson lost his voice belting out Coldplay while driving in his car.

Let me know your thoughts on the Archer situation.

Toss delayed because of rainpublished at 10:37 British Summer Time 16 July 2020

10:37 BST 16 July 2020

There are plenty of strong views on Test Match Special. You can listen by clicking play at the top of this page.

Archer has been silly and it's a real shame he will not be playing.

If you haven't noticed, we should have had the toss by now. That has not happened because the covers are on and it is drizzling.

The start of play will be delayed.