The start of the fourth one-day international between England and South Africa at Lord's has been delayed after heavy early morning rain in London.

Thundery downpours were evident across much of the south-east in the early morning, with further rain predicted.

Should it stop, there will be as good a chance of play as anywhere, given the outstanding Lord's drainage system.

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LATEST ACTION (ALL TIMES BST)

By Pranav Soneji

e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Pranav Soneji' in the subject), text 81111 (with "CRICKET" as the first word) or use 606. (Not all contributions can be used)

"I bring good news. After chucking it down for hours, down here in SW London its almost clear skies, sun starting to shine, and that's heading to Lord's. And you've not lived until you've had marmite and strawberry jam on toast. Don't laugh, try it..."
Stig, London via the TMS inbox

You utter freak Stig. Good work.

1204: Umpires Simon Taufel and Mark Benson will be back out on the hallowed Lord's turf (albeit partially covered up by various bits of high-tech plasticky things) in about five minutes for an "informal" inspection.

1201: RichCroker on 606 wants to know how the world rankings would be effected if today is a washout but England win on Wednesday. This requires one of my army of minions to investigate as the ICC ranking points system is as complex as open heart surgery - and probably more painful too.

"I once had deep fried pizza whilst I was staying in Glasgow. Blooming lovely it was, if rather heart-attack-inducing!"
Chizzleface on 606 Join the debate on 606

"I'm sat in the ground watching the groundstaff fiddling with the boundary rope and sweeping the water off the covers. Is this a sign of play getting nearer?"
Tom via TEXT 81111

Hello Tom, still waiting here too. Will give you an update as soon as we hear.

1150: Umpires Simon Taufel and Mark Benson are out on the pitch, although neither looks particularly enthused to be out there. Still waiting for updates on play.

1147: For all of you listening to TMS, we currently have axe-wielder extraordinaire Eric Clapton talking about his love of leather on willow. He reveals he dedicated an old Hoagy Carmichael song called "Old Rocking Chair" to good pal Sir Ian Botham at a gig recently. Anyone know if it's a decent tune with a nice widdly axe solo in the middle?

1144: Steve Pritchard in Chester says he has never eaten a deep-fried peanut butter sandwich (see 1129), but has "had a strawberry jam, chocolate spread and peanut butter toastie dunked in a mug of hot chocolate at an Everton goalkeeper's house." I'm guessing Neville Southall. The most revolting thing I've ever eaten was a pot noodle (chicken and mushroom) for breakfast.

1139: It's still raining at Lord's and the covers are still on - and still no word of an unpire's inspection. Also, there is no reserve day tomorrow, so if this is a washout, then no play on Monday.

1129: Eirebilly on 606 has asked what time play is going to start. Simple answer is we don't know yet. Sorry I can't give you anything more precise than that.

"Listen here, Pranav, my good man. I do not pay my huge licence fee just to read some highly relevant and clearly well-informed judgments about who should or not should not be in the England team, what it's like to play high pressure cricket, and what the cricket conditions are like. Would you please do us all a favour and get back to the traditional mix of puerile and pointless innuendo, stories about odd foodstuffs and too much booze in appropriate locations, dogs that look like old ladies wearing hats on the pitch, or something. If you're not up to it, that Dirs fellow will have to be called in, whatever state he's in after last night."
Paul in Lancs via the TMS inbox

Apologies Paul, anyone ever eaten a deep-fried peanut butter sandwich before?

1121: Jonathan Agnew has just asked Trescothick whether he misses playing international cricket. The opener said not when it's on the telly, but walking into Lord's has suddenly made him realise how much he actually does miss it. It's utterly refreshing listening to a sportsman talking so openly and honestly about something that is considered a taboo subject. Aggers has just mentioned the mints subject, which has riled the Australians.

"We went for lunch in the middle of Sydney (during the 2006/7 Ashes tour to Australia) and got followed by a photographer. He was there everywhere we went and the little things like that freaked me out. I'm under pressure and suddenly my privacy was put into jeopardy."
Marcus Trescothick talking to Jonathan Agnew about his pyschological problems on TMS.

1113: Former England opener Marcus Trescothick is talking on TMS and it is one of the most revealing and frank interviews you will ever hear with Jonathan Agnew. Definitely worth tuning in if you can.

"In the Upper Edrich stand with my australian fiancee (England supporter) hoping to show her a match at the home of cricket. Not going to plan!"
Ted via TEXT 81111

"Any chance we can discuss something other than wicketkeepers and Ian Bell? Its all we ever talk about on here. How about 'Kevin Pietersen is the best England captain ever - discuss'?"
Ste Pritchard, Chester via the TMS inbox

Nice, like it - nothing like a bit of excited hyberbole to get the debate chuntering like an MCC member moaning about the cost of the Sunday Telegraph these days.

"Following on from Alec Stewart's comments (see 1041) about Ian Bell's bowling, which other current England player can boast an average of 14.66 from 6 innings bowled in. Also he's an excellent batsman and people don't give him enough credit. Maybe if he was shown some more love he might play better in pressure situations because he would not be worrying about all those who are constantly slagging him off."
Tom, Surrey via the TMS inbox

1100: Rain eh? I'm currently replaying the highlights of England v India from 1990 in my head, I loved that series. Oh look - Kiran More's just dropped Graham Gooch on 36 off Sanjeev Sharma. Anyone mentally replaying past series to pass over the time? Just me then.

"How come there's no mention of Steve Davies? He's young (22), therefore potential long term solution, he can bat (have a look at his pro40 record for this season) and he can keep (he's a keeper-batsmen rather than a batsman who needed another string to his bow to make the team)."
Tom, Worcestershire via the TMS inbox

"Be honest with me Pranav, what are the odds of play this morning? I am banking on the cricket to get me through a boring morning in work and even though I have spent 10 minutes reminiscing about John Major and peas, I am going to need more entertainment than that."
Ian, Cardiff via the TMS inbox

I ain't gonna mince my words, it's not looking too great. However, on the plus side - the drainage system, it's brilliant. However, it has started raining again in NW8, the brollies are up.

1041: Former England captain Alec Stewart is extolling the bowling virtues of Ian Bell, who is not a shabby seamer when tossed the ball. "If he was bowling more for Warwickshire, he would be the sixth bowler."

1038: No talk as yet of umpire inspections. Weather - if this weekend was a new batsman at your local club, it would have played a textbook century on Saturday, full of high elbows and rolling wrists getting everyone excited about Sunday's match against local rivals Dunny-on-the-Wold, only to be dismissed first ball playing a reverse hook to a well pitched up delivery on middle stump. Madness. BBC Weather: London

1033: They're talking about wicketkeepers on TMS right now, with Phil Tufnell championing Essex gloveman James Foster's corner for the India tour. I would second that nomination, especially as he has experience of keeping on the subcontinent. Anyone else got any thoughts on this?

1028: Thanks to Jerry Stockbridge for pointing out "la clase" should be "la classe". Merci buckets.

1026: What is it with this weekend? Glorious sunshine beats down upon the Challenge Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, but fast forward 12 hours and move about six miles south and it's like walking into Mordor. The groundstaff are mopping up an early-morning downpour and the covers are on. For those optimists out there (morning Ted), Lord's does have the best drainage system about.

1016: Bonjour la classe, anyone else see what I see when I look out of the window? It's greyer than John Major's Spitting Image puppet (ask yer dad kids) out there. Grrrr, so I wouldn't bank on a 1045 start. Sorry.

(BBC)

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