Ben Stokes flicks the ball up in the manner of a spinner at the top of his mark. He runs in purposefully and has David Warner going back in his crease defending but the ball talks off the pitch and takes the edge.

Zak Crawley dives to his left but...agonisingly the ball just misses his big paws and runs away for a boundary.

Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Mark Wood is ramping up some pace, around 92mph consistently. He is going over and round the wicket and changing his field around. It suggests there isn't much going on out there and it is just some kidology.

England's players all bear serious expressions as they continue to search for a breakthrough at the SCG. Mark Wood sprints in round the wicket to Marcus Harris, but it's a relatively nonthreatening over for the watchful Aussie opener to negotiate.

A maiden for Wood.

Ian Chappell
Former Australia captain on Test Match Special

We have seen more grass on the pitches in Australia in the last couple of years and that is a good thing.

The best matches are where the bowlers have something to work with and I want a contest between bat and ball.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

Image source, Getty Images

Ben Stokes won't want to take a wicket from a no-ball like he did at the Gabba.

Oooooooh, close! Ben Stokes presents a beautiful seam position and the ball nips away to beat the outside edge of the left-handed David Warner. Some encouragement for England's bowling attack.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

The sun is with us at the moment. It isn't on full beam but it is pleasant.

We've definitely had more play today than many of us expected to.

Ben Stokes hands his blue England cap to Stuart Broad, who tucks into the back of his trousers and scuttles off to mid-on, before striding to his bowling mark.

The England all-rounder sprays it short and wide with his second ball but Marcus Harris only half commits to a cut shot and the ball is fielded by the swooping James Anderson at point.

Stokes had just overstepped so that is given as a no ball.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

We haven't had many play and misses so far but that might be because of the stop-start nature.

Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

That is the perfect length from Mark Wood. It drew David Warner forward and went past the splice - it would have definitely carried if it took the edge.

Mark Wood is probing outside David Warner's off stump and he induces a half drive from the Aussie left-hander with a delivery which just misses the edge. Warner with another nod, this time to the bowler. That was a good nut.

Ben Stokes attempts to ruffle the feathers of Marcus Harris with a bumper, but the Aussie opener bobs and weaves out the way.

Harris leaves and defends for the remainder of the over as he chalks up a maiden to start with.

The sun is starting to break through at the SCG now.

Second session: 02:30-5:00 GMT

Tea: 05:00-05:20

Final session: 05:20-07:30

Close of play: 07:30 (play can continue until 08:00)

Minimum of 83 overs to be bowled.

A piece of classic David Warner after that drive. A few mini steps, clutches the blade in his hand and 'I got this' nod to his opening partner.

The flame-haired Ben Stokes has ball in hand for the tourists.

Image source, Getty Images

Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

David Warner has looked fluent today, like he's really on it and in good nick.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

Two good shots from Warner after lunch - it was wide from Wood and dispatched.

David Warner digs out a yorker from Mark Wood first up before tucking into a full wide one which he crunches to the boundary through the covers.

England's players get together and go through a few quick warm-ups before scattering into the their positions. Australia's openers stride out purposefully.

Mark Wood is all set to finish his over before the rain break.

Some encouraging-ish news. The covers are off in Sydney and there's lots of bright-eyed youngsters scampering about on the outfield playing games of what we know as Kwick Cricket but what Australia have rebranded as Milo Kanga.

Andy Zaltzman
BBC Test Match Special statistician

England cricket teams have become accustomed to being forcefully disintegrated by a tour of Australia.

For the fifth time in six tours, they have lost the urn at the earliest available opportunity, this time in record-breakingly swift fashion.

It took just 852.3 overs, the smallest quantity of cricket ever required for Australia to win the Ashes at home after a third Test lasting just 180 overs and four balls - also making this the earliest any team has ever lost a five-Test series.

England supporters of a statistically sensitive disposition should look away now, as I attempt to put numerical perspective on a savage series defeat at the end of a year of startling decline...

You can read about it here...