James Anderson will open the bowling under the lights. But before he can do so a member of the groundstaff is coming on with a bucket of sawdust.

England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler talking about the issue of bad light: "Sometimes I think the pundits do get carried away with us getting out in bad light - it's easier to say it from up there. Cricket is an imperfect game. I don't think there is an easy or perfect answer. The umpires are an easy scapegoat for it too."

Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at the Ageas Bowl

Jerusalem is playing. The players are on the boundary edge.

It’s still dry but I’m not getting my hopes up.

Mark Ramprakash
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Both sides need to be very careful here, not to be complacent and think the weather will just take care of the game.

If Pakistan come out and add 15-20 runs then England have got work to do. They've got to be professional because if they think they can't win this game they could be in trouble.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

England look as if they can't wait to get going. They are all gathered on the boundary but there is no sign of the umpires yet.

England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler talking to Sky Sports: "It's been very frustrating - we've just wanted to get out there and get the game moving forward but it is just what it is.

"We need to take the wicket as fast as possible and then bat well. We've seen the ball swing consistently and there's been some decent carry - when we do come to bat we're going to have to bat very well."

Azhar Mahmood
Former Pakistan all-rounder on Test Match Special

There's no chance. Knowing Azhar Ali there is absolutely no chance.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

Here's a thought: Pakistan need to win. Is there any chance they would declare?

So here's where we are on day four. Back on Thursday morning, Pakistan chose to bat and they will resume that same innings on 223-9, with gritty wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan still there on 60.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

The floodlights are on, there is low cloud. The players are out there training and we've been told as long as there is no rain at 11 the light is good enough to play.

However, the trouble is over my right-hand shoulder there is some awful dark clouds brewing and there are some storms coming from France.

BBC Weather's Tomasz Schafernaker: "By a whisker we may just miss it but there may be interruptions later. If the rain does come it will be heavy so very unpredictable from hour to hour literally. Tomorrow we are still in the same weather pattern so the unpredictability will continue."

Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at the Ageas Bowl

I was greeted by a surprising sight when I opened my curtains here this morning. Sunshine.

It has filled in again since, however...

The British weather is pretty unpredictable too and you wouldn't rule out problems from those skies, but it's not as gloomy a forecast as yesterday at least. Our man in the bubble, Matt Henry, will tell us more.

Not a ball bowled yesterday and just the 86 overs across the first three days, but two days remain, with two unpredictable teams. Let's what transpires as we welcome you to our coverage of day four of the second Test between England and Pakistan from the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.

Hello again. Whisper it quietly but we are going to start on time. (If the weather doesn't intervene in the next 15 minutes).