England v Pakistan: second men’s cricket Test, day three start delayed – live

The rain shouldn’t stop England winning this match and taking the series with one game still to play in Birmingham.

Joe Root’s side are 260 runs ahead with seven second innings wickets in hand. The forecast for later today and tomorrow is better, there should be plenty of opportunity for England to secure a first series win in 18 months. Gulp.

Why does it always rain on me? Is it because England have Pakistan 81-3?

I’m afraid it is going to be a severely rain affected day three at Lord’s and the forecast is particularly grim, Rowan Atkinson’s Blackadder might describe it as wetter than a platypus at a private prep school. Something like that anyway.

We’ve had news from on high (the ECB bods rather than God, though it would be useful to get a steer from the biggun) that the start of play is ‘Officially Delayed’. Well, indeed.

The covers are on and will be for the foreseeable, any updates I’ll bring to you toot suite. Until then we’ll just have to while away the hours in trusty OBO rain delay fashion.