Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

The covers are coming off again. It is like musical chairs.

The sheet has been taken off again and the stumps are going back in the ground and people are marking out their run-ups again.

The sheet and staff are waiting less than a metre away from a very green strip.

Hmmm, the groundstaff have started to put the woven sheets back over the pitch.

The players are still out warming up so it can't be too heavy.

I'll keep you updated.

Quite frankly, who knows what the team is going to be today.

We heard that Jonny Bairstow was set to play, but we've then seen Ollie Pope netting this morning as if he was going to play.

Mark Wood was presented with a cap for his 25th Test yesterday so he'll be part of the attack. Craig Overton and Chris Woakes were warming up intently earlier but we've just seen Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson marking out their run-ups.

Best to wait for the toss I think.

We know that England are going to make at least one change with Jos Buttler having flown home with a fractured finger.

Kent wicketkeeper and regular white-ball England player Sam Billings will make his debut behind the stumps after being presented with his cap during training on Thursday.

We're yet to hear if there are any others and whether Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow are fit to play. Captain Joe Root hinted earlier in the week that they could play as specialist batters after suffering side and thumb injuries respectively in Sydney.

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Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

The pitch is very green. It is like a meadow.

Providing there is no more rain we'll have the toss on the hour - when play was due to start.

There has been no confirmed start time yet, but that would probably mean a 04:30 start.

There is light rain forecast for throughout the day in Hobart so it could be one of those frustrating on-off days.

It all depends on how much hits the ground and how much skirts on by.

With this being a day-night Test with the pink ball play is scheduled for 15:00-22:00 there, with play possible until 22:30. Late night for the locals.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on BBC Test Match Special

It is not going to rain all day. It is English mizzle which comes and goes in the mist. The groundstaff are actually unpegging the covers now.

BBC Test Match Special

The Test Match Special team are raring to go for the final time and you can listen along using the big audio icon at the top of this page.

Jonathan Agnew, Geoff Lemon, Jim Maxwell and Henry Moeran are joined by Steven Finn, Alex Hartley and Glenn McGrath this week.

Players and support staff from both sides are now back on the outfield.

They are chatting away to each other and to the staff at the ground.

Delayed tosspublished at 03:30 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2022

03:30 GMT 14 January 2022

Yeah, bad news I'm afraid. The covers have been on throughout the day in Hobart - it is 14:30 there now.

We're definitely going to have a delayed toss, and it looks pretty likely we'll have a delayed start too.

Both sets of players have been out doing warm-ups but the rain got a little bit heavier around 15 minutes or so and they have gone back to the changing rooms.

But, the groundstaff have just started to remove the covers on the bowlers run-ups so we may not be waiting too long.

Morning!

Welcome to our coverage of the fifth and final Ashes Test of this series - a day-night game in Hobart.

England battled their way to a draw in Sydney, with Covid issues and numerous injuries in the camp, but can they go one better this week to end the tour on a high?

It should be almost time for the toss, but...

The series clean sweep has been avoided.

Can England now go one step further and win the final Test to salvage some pride?

Let's find out.

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