Marnus Labuschagne really does leave a ball incredibly well. Superb judgement.

It is now the sunniest I've seen it today. The pitch is still damp, though, as James Anderson nearly slips over in his follow-through.

Ian Chappell
Former Australia captain on Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

The last two or three years the pitch at the SCG has a lot more grass on it to bring the bowlers into play. When teams make 275 to 350 it undoubtedly makes for better Test matches.

We've made it to a drinks break!

There's four fielders out as Jack Leach bowls to Marnus Labuschagne, who takes an easy single instead, much to the disappointment of the SCG crowd.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

The last time Marnus Labuschagne faced Jack Leach at the Gabba he went after him. Will he do the same?

Jack Leach is going to have a bowl!

Alex Hartley
England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

We have actually seen more cricket than we expected when I pulled back the curtains this morning in Sydney to see it lashing down. Although this weather wasn't quite what I was expecting when asked to come out to Australia and commentate on the Ashes!

Things that are inevitable: death, taxes, someone standing in front of the sightscreen at the cricket.

Labschagne gestures furiously at them to move before playing his way through a James Anderson maiden.

Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

The sun is just poking its head through. You can see long shadows now. Australia are resolute and England are hanging in there. Both teams are plugging away but the Aussies are on top at the moment.

Oh, that's four! Short from Ben Stokes, sitting up invitingly, and Marcus Harris leans back and punches it away square of the wicket for a very, very handsome boundary.

Stokes follows it up with a delivery that tickles the outside edge of Harris' bat.

There's a half-hearted yelp for lbw as Marnus Labuschagne is struck on the pad, but a big inside edge has helped the ball along.

Labuschagne gestures furiously at the ball, at himself, at the weather, at everything, before settling back down and tapping his way through the rest of Anderson's over.

Bob the horse: Are there stats for how often teams miss a direct hit when throwing at the stumps? I can't remember England hitting for ages.

There's nothing worse than when you slip and you have that split-second awareness of "yeah, I'm going to land smack on my backside here. And it's going to hurt."

Marnus Labuschagne hustles a clip off his toes, which teases Jack Leach in the deep before Leach can eventually slide and prevent it from reaching the boundary rope. That's good judgement on a slippery outfield.

Whoops. Marcus Harris sets off for a single, slips, and eventually scrabbles back home as the throw goes to the other end.

Ben Stokes is back on.

Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

We may see some spin in the form of Jack Leach later in the day. At the moment with a harder ball, and a green tinge to the pitch, the seamers will dominate Joe Root's thoughts.

Shot!

Marcus Harris sends a James Anderson delivery flying away through the covers for four.

Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

England's bowlers are armed with a 'new' ball on a truncated day. James Anderson and Stuart Broad will appreciate having that harder slightly newer cherry to bowl with.