A few of you are asking about the latest with Mitchell Starc, who left the field yesterday with a shoulder problem having also tweaked his hamstring earlier in the day.

We have had no official update this morning, though assistant coach Dan Vettori said last night that they were "pretty confident" Starc will be able to bowl today and there were no plans to send him for a scan.

Of course, we will bring you any updates as soon as we have them.

Image source, Getty Images

I admire your optimism, Edward.

It is getting brighter at Old Trafford and the ground staff are removing the covers to begin the clean-up operation.

Still no news of any delayed start, but with 90 minutes to go I remain hopeful the outfield will be ready in time.

We will bring you any updates as soon as we have them.

Here is a reminder of today's Daily ZaltzQuiz:

England reached 300 in 51.5 overs yesterday, for the loss of just two wickets. Not only was the fastest either team has ever reached 300 in an Ashes Test innings, but it prompted a feeling that England cricket fans have not enjoyed since 1985 – the joy (and perhaps confusion) of seeing their team put 300 on the board with fewer than three wickets down.

For today’s Guesswork Challenge: in the 51 men's Ashes Tests in England between 1985 and the current game at Old Trafford, what was the average score at the fall of England's third wicket?

We will reveal the answer at 10:30 BST!

kidner kumaran: my last daughter who is a 3rd year medical student and a fanatic sports fan says 55. I said to her 38. I am awaiting to hear from my other two children!!!

Cookslikejamie: It feels like it is always 30, but I'll be more optimistic and go for 78.

michael: The average in 1981 was 86 so I’m going with that. (Not cheating as this series wasn’t within Andy’s time-frame!)

Hmmm, I sent that upstairs for DRS review, Michael, but it came back down as umpire's call. So you stay in the game.

Sam Drury
BBC Sport cricket writer

Zak Crawley expects England will plan to bat just once at Old Trafford.

England will resume on 384-4, a lead of 67, but with rain forecast over the weekend, England must decide on the best approach to force a result and level the series.

"Anything can happen with [Ben] Stokes," Crawley said.

"While we have two very good players at the crease [Stokes and Harry Brook] and Jonny [Bairstow] still to come, plus a strong tail, I think the gameplan will be to bat well tomorrow and bat once.

"Maybe if we lose a couple of early wickets tomorrow that changes but we'd like a big lead and bowl them out and not have to bat again.

"That would be ideal and we are not expecting that... we are expecting them to bat well."

Read more here.

A few of you have texted in mentioning the Gabba (You knowledgeable bunch, you). Yep, England declared on 517/1 in 2010-11. Zaltz was of course referring to a home Ashes series.

YES! Good news Henry strikes.

Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

I’ve arrived at Old Trafford. The rain has stopped. It’s a bit brighter too.

Matthew Henry is in position at Old Trafford with another weather update.

Cross your fingers everyone...

Isa Guha and Michael Vaughan preview day three of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, with Vaughan thinking England should aim for a lead of 200.

Thank you Mark & Sarah, very kind. And congratulations Kate!

Yep, I am afraid to say the covers are on at Old Trafford, BUT the picture is predicted to improve as the day goes on.

I'm no Michael Fish but I've had a look at the radar and once this band of showers moves on the outlook looks clear so we should see some play.

Fingers crossed the ground staff can work their magic and ensure we do not have a delayed start.

If we do hear of any delay we will of course let you know straight away.

Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Rain is still falling steadily in Manchester…

Yet Australia still could have the last laugh thanks to something out of everyone's control - the weather.

A few of you have been texting in asking for the forecast (which I did promise at the start of this live text to be fair). Well, our man in the know Matthew Henry is at Old Trafford with an update...

Yesterday felt like the sort of days Australia usually inflict on England down under. Pat Cummins looked increasingly flustered during he afternoon session, powerless to stem the flow of runs.

Image source, Getty Images

Robert Craddock in the Herald Sun, external says the fallout from Australia's win at Lord's, featuring that controversial dismissal of Jonny Bairstow, is weighin the team down.

Was poking the Bairstow really worth the hassle?

The debate over the spirit verses the laws of cricket became so intense and self-righteous following Jonny Bairstow’s stumping at Lord’s that everyone forgot to mention that the decision in itself would eventually mean nothing compared to the emotionally sapping fallout which would follow it.

Australia have just had nine days off yet they looked like a tired team on day one and two at Old Trafford and Pat Cummins’ confused state embodied that of his team.

Michael Vaughan mentioned on radio that perhaps the Bairstow decision, when he was stumped not attempting a run at Lord’s, may have taken more out of Cummins than he realised.

The fallout has been intense and series shaping.

English skipper Ben Stokes batted like a firecracker in the immediate aftermath of the controversial call, English crowds came alive and have stayed that way ever since, and Australia have had to face a firestorm which was simply inevitable.

Daniel Brettig in the Sydney Morning Herald, external did not hold back either,

Trudging off Old Trafford after chipping the first ball of the morning to his opposite number Ben Stokes at cover, Pat Cummins could have been forgiven for thinking that his day could only get better from there.

Alas for Cummins and Australia, the tourists and their captain put in the first genuine stinker of a day by either side in this Ashes series.

Riddled with mistakes, questionable tactics and ultimately carrying an air of resignation, it has allowed England to dream of getting to the Oval at 2-2 even if weather does significantly interrupt the last three days.

Worthy of note is the cumulative effect created by England’s continued willingness to push the game forward, going on the attack despite the risk of failure, and constantly putting the Australians under pressure.

They stood up to that heat at Edgbaston and Lord’s, then fell narrowly short of absorbing it at Headingley, but wilted at Old Trafford.

Peter Lalor in the Australian, external did not hold back in his assessment of Australia's performance.

Pat Cummins appeared to lose the plot and Australia any chance of winning this Test after England taught them a brutal lesson on the second day at Old Trafford.

This was as messy as it gets. Everything that could go wrong did. Catches were dropped. Over throws conceded. Players injured. Reputations disrespected.Bowlers got frustrated and England just got on with it.

Everything Australia got wrong, England got right. And every break appeared to go the home side’s way, as it so often does when you make the running.#

Rarely has an Australian side looked so clueless, rarely the captain looked so rattled.

There’s weather predicted for the third morning and the last two days, but the way England are moving it won’t take much clear air to equal the series 2-2.