I don’t want to suggest that the groundstaff have given up, but they are putting even more pegs around the large tarpaulin cover that’s sheltering the square.

They don’t think they’re going to have to take this up any time soon.

I didn’t see one in use earlier on, Bry.

But they did have a rope that they dragged around the outfield, which I’m sure is just as useful.

Hold that thought, George.

If there’s no let up in the next couple of hours then we’re definitely done.

But, as is well known, the Gabba drains really, really well.

I find it unlikely that they’d delay a Brisbane Test until the winter, and there have been far more days play in Queensland than at the SCG in recent years, but I understand the frustration.

Lake Woolloongabba is getting bigger and deeper.

The rain is not letting up.

And it doesn’t look like we’ll be seeing any play any time soon.

It truly is appalling out there at the moment.

Welp, that’s lunch.

13.2 overs bowled, the rain is hammering down, the puddles are widening and the covers are pegged down.

We’ll see you in a few minutes for some hopefully better news.

G’day Steph,

Side strains are tricky beasts and Josh Hazlewood has had his struggles in the past. So let’s hope he’s pulled up OK.

And as far as Mitch Marsh goes, he was warming up his bowling before play, so he’s obviously expecting to be a part of the attack.

Delay number two comes as the rain arrives not long after the cloud cover and the batters sprint off the field to protect their precious willow.

It’s immediately heavy and the ground staff waste no time getting the big covers on.

The Indian quick looks fired up and is really running through the crease.

The clouds are back as Nathan McSweeney leaves outside off. We need the rain to stay away for another half-hour until lunch.

But it isn’t…

Beaten. Khawaja in that classic Khawaja style is incredibly lucky not to nick off as he plays just inside the line of a ball that seams away and across him.

He gets one on his pads, but for once he doesn’t cash in, clipping the ball directly to Shubman Gill at mid-on.

Rohit Sharma has moved KL Rahul out of third slip and into cover. And Khawaja finds him with a drive.

Another push outside off and this one seams so far that Khawaja wasn’t even particularly close to getting any bat on it.

The pace and bounce from Akash is good as McSweeney shoulders arms.

Rishabh Pant is taking them up around his head.

Akash finds his pad and there’s some enthusiasm from behind the stumps (Virat Kohli never wanting for enthusiasm) but it was way too high and down leg.

Oh that looked better, but still too high. Really good start this from Akash.

Khawaja is on the hop and clipping a single wide of square leg.

McSweeney hasn’t spent a lot of time at this end, so Bumrah will be keen to get into his work against him here.

Gun-barrel straight at McSweeney’s thigh and the former Queensland Bull helps himself to an easy single off his thigh.

Oh, not so easy for Khawaja as a ball rips past his outside edge. That was wide and stayed wide, and Khawaja just hung the bat out at it. Would have been a hideous dismissal if he’d found the edge.

McSweeney shoulders arms to a ball coming back in at him and Akash is up for an appeal. The rest of the team, and this blogger, are quietly baffled. I think the ball flicked his pad but yeah, no. Not close.

Runs for McSweeney as he clips a ball off his hip.

Akash comes around the wicket to Khawaja, who whips a single off his toes to end the over.

Khawaja is staying watchful to Bumrah. Unlike McSweeney, he’s batting deep in his crease. And his feet are bolted to it too.

Bumrah gives him a bit of width and Khawaja plays it late, right under his eyes, on the square drive, but it’s straight to the point fielder.

Edged, but straight into the ground and it’s cleaned up by KL Rahul to end the over.

Nathan McSweeney is on strike, still batting a long way outside his crease. That’s usually a move to negate swing, but I haven’t seen much of it this morning.

Two tidy shots from McSweeney – a square drive and a dab towards third man – but both are mopped up. Fielders backing up their bowler.

Beaten. A nervous moment from McSweeney as he pushes hard at a cover drive that was there to be hit, but a bit of movement off the seam takes it just past the outside edge.

Nathan McSweeney turns one fine off his pads and Khawaja sneaks through for a single.

He’s starting his run-up, but Khawaja is looking around. In fairness to him, I think some fielders were still getting into position. I don’t think Bumrah appreciated that much.

Akash is warming up in the Deep as Khawaja leaves a ball alone outside off.

Usman Khawaja is on strike, and there’s a smattering of boos for Siraj as he charges in.

Bang! Siraj drops short and Khawaja wastes no time cracking a pull shot over the top of the leg side. He’s looking eager to take the attack to the bowlers, but he’s being gifted some easy scoring options. They need to stay off his pads and stop giving him short balls to pull and hook.