As you walk out of the SCG pavilion, there is a plaque to commemorate Phillip Hughes, who died in 2014.

You often see the Australian players touching it as they walk out, as a way to pay tribute to their friend.

Meanwhile, it's snowing in Kabul - if you like snow-covered cricket scenes, this one is for you...

Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

This is probably one of the best pitches to bat on in Australia once you get through the new ball.

Here come the teams for the anthems. Australia's remains an absolute belter.

All of the session times have just been adjusted by 30 minutes and no time has been lost. That leaves us with the following schedule today:

First session: 00:00-02:00 GMT

Lunch: 02:00-02:40

Second session: 02:40-04:40

Tea: 04:40-05:00

Third session: 05:00-07:00 (play can continue until 07:30)

Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

Five or six days ago, I tested positive for Covid. I am asymptomatic and isolating at home. I'm hoping to get a rapid, negative test and be there for day three. Day three is where it all comes together for Jane McGrath Day. It's the 14th year and it gets bigger and bigger every year.

Fifteen minutes until play starts. This is the ideal time to whack the kettle on.

Jack Rule: Oh man another reason why we can’t hate Pat Cummins. He wins the toss and gives England a chance by letting them bowl first.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

It is brighter out there at the moment but it is overcast. I can see some shadows from Spidercam and I can't see any breaks in the cloud.

Australia: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wkt), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.

England: Haseeb Hameed, Zak Crawley, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Mark Wood, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

Umpires: Paul Reiffel, Rodney Tucker; TV umpire: Paul Wilson; Match referee: Stephen Bernard

England captain Joe Root: "We would probably have batted first too because it does look a reasonably good wicket but there is some live grass and there are some overheads. There is an opportunity to get some early wickets this morning.

"I want us to keep working really hard at all facets of the game. It is is really important we keep throwing everything at each performance and understand that things do turn in time. We've got to be strong and resilient and take those chances.

"It is about outscoring Australia - it is about batting long periods of time but it is about putting that pressure back on. We're more than capable of doing that.

"We didn't consider more changes - I don't think we need too much change now. The guys need to take the opportunities and step up and put in a performance now."

Australia captain Pat Cummins: "It was a bit tempting with the clouds and weather around but the SCG has always been a bat first ground and I don't see any different here.

"It has been awesome this week to walk through the same gates that I have been for 10-11 years.

"We love playing in the pink Test - it just shows the power of sport."

Joe Root says England would have had a bat as well, proving once and for all that I know nothing.

Cummins says he was tempted to have a bowl but reckons batting is the best way forward.

This is his home ground, so he'd know better than anyone how the pitch will play over five days.

Well then!

From my living room sofa back in Manchester, I say bowl first. But what do I know?

After a bit of last minute faffing, Pat Cummins has the coin in his hand. Up it goes...

Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

It's difficult having not seen the wicket live - us cricketers like to be at one with the wicket by touching it - but there is a significant covering of grass and watching the bowlers on similar pitches next to the square, the ball is zipping through. With the atmosphere around, bowl first is the logical option.

Right. New year, new me, new England and all that. It can't be as bad as it was in 2021, surely?

Here come the captains for the toss.

Hmm. The hesian cover thing - descriptive, I know - has just gone back on the pitch...