The lunch break has officially begun. The ground staff are looking very busy as they get the square into a playable condition.

Still no official word of a start time yet. As soon as we hear anything we will let you know.

Andy Zaltzman
Cricket statistician on Test Match Special

I have looked at Tests which could be classed as a close finish. So those which have been won by three wickets or fewer chasing, or by 50 runs when defending. Since 1980 Australia have won 14 out of 36 matches. If you look specifically at Ashes matches, since 1926, there have been 10 games which have been close finishes - 25 runs or fewer in this instance - and England have won all 10 of them.

Could this man love Australian cricket any more?

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

That latest update from Simon sounds positive, though we still have a while before we see some cricket.

In the meantime let me point you in the direction of a special edition of BBC World Service Sport’s podcast about James Anderson's 20-year Test career.

The Sportsworld podcast reflects on Anderson’s 20 years at the top including interviews with the man himself, former England captain Sir Alastair Cook and Australia’s Peter Siddle.

Check it out over at BBC Sounds.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

It is still grey and gloomy at Edgbaston and the covers are still on but the supersoppers are out there drying up the outfield. The stands are starting to fill up a little more now with spectators.

Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Looking back, whatever they get out this game, I hope they are honest privately. The golf trip I love, go and have some fun, but I just feel two days of county cricket on the Sunday and Monday where they all could have played for their counties and had one innings in the field, and one with the bat, that would have been good preparation for this Test match.

James Anderson, for example, has been injured for a few weeks. Would he have been better bowling 15 overs for Lancashire? I think he would. Ollie Robinson the same. It's not just about the body but focusing the mind on cricket. I would argue until I am blue in the face that England would have put in a sharper performance if the players had played a little bit of cricket.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

Image source, Getty Images

There's a smattering of spectators around the ground but the majority of them do not have their umbrellas up. The word is it will have totally stopped by around 12:30 BST. You sense there is still enough time to get a result here.

BBC Test Match Special

You can still listen to Test Match Special even if you are outside the UK via our overseas feed. You can check it out here., external

Any more cricket-themed children's TV shows? Let us know via the usual channels.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport chief cricket writer at Edgbaston

Image source, Getty Images

What is it about this ground?

Headingley may have cornered the market on England all-rounders salvaging Ashes lost causes, but for the slow build of drama, an electrifying atmosphere and squeaky-bum finishes, Edgbaston is the place to be.

To Ian Botham in 1981 (he followed his masterpiece in Leeds with another showstopper here) and Steve Harmison in 2005, get ready to add 2023.

As Birmingham sleeps, England need seven more wickets, Australia another 174 runs to reach their target of 281 - barely a cigarette paper between them, day five full of promise for another classic.

Read more here.

Good news. The rain looks to have eased at Edgbaston and the drying up operation is under way.

I can see several ground staff patrolling the covers while the super-sopper is circling the outfield.

A reminder that an early lunch is being taken from 12:30-13:10 BST with the hope of play starting shortly afterwards.

I reckon the Haahoos would make good boundary riders. Nothing will get past that lot.

Sir Alastair Cook
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

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Jonny Bairstow is playing at Lord's as the wicktkeeper, there's no doubt about that even if England lose. If you look at the way Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have operated with Zak Crawley in particular they have been very clear they have picked the squad already for Lord's and this group will do these two Test matches. What it will do is sharpen the knives for the media. It gives us something to talk about The players in the dressing room - Jonny in particular - has to ignore it. If he takes a blinding catch today which helps put England on their way he has made amends. That's the challenge of Test cricket. He can't allow the mistakes of the previous four days to stay in his mind.

Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

It will be very loud about Jonny Bairstow's position if England lose. England will go again with him at Lord's. If England are going to play on these pitches throughout the Ashes you would start to think you would want your best wicketkeeper. The chances are so crucial. If it's swinging and seaming in normal English conditions you know you will get another chance. If it's moving about all over the place you might be disappointed if a catch goes down but you will get another chance. But on these pitches you start to think 'where's the next chance coming?'. So you do have to make sure you are switched on. I don't think he is a natural gloveman. He's a good one when he's concentrated.

While the rain continues to fall, why not take a look back at Stuart Broad's magic spell last night?

Incidentally I missed the Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith wickets as I had to switch the TV over to In the Night Garden on CBeebies to appease by baby daughter.

In case you were wondering: Iggle Piggle still wasn't in bed.