England v Australia LIVE: Cricket updates from fourth ODI at Lord’s as rain delays play for a second time
Australia lead 2-1 after England captain Harry Book’s century at Durham kept the series alive, as the tourists visit the home of cricket for the first time since the infamous Ashes Test last summer
England cricket face Australia cricket in the fourth ODI at Lord’s looking to even the series and set up a thrilling decider.
Harry Brook produced a magnificent century at the Riverside Ground to inspire a rain-affected 46-run victory in Durham on Tuesday, as the captain set a more measured tone with the bat following his contentious “who cares” comments in the build-up. The result not only kept the series alive but ended Australia’s 14-match winning streak in the process, and England need a repeat performance at the home of cricket today to force a series showdown in Bristol on Sunday.
It is Australia’s first time back at Lord’s since Alex Carey’s infamous stumping of Jonny Bairstow during the Ashes, which led to ugly scenes in the Long Room between MCC members and touring players.
Follow the latest score all the live action between England and Australia in the blog below.
Weather update: Covers are off
The stumps are going back into the ground, the last of the covers have come off and we are just waiting for an official start time, and to find out how many overs have been lost with the more than two hour delay.
The match has been shortened to 39 overs, 20 minutes at the interval, and will start at 2.45pm.
Weather update: The covers are moving
The super-sopper has stopped and the covers are starting to come off for a second time at Lord’s, but the sky is quite grey over towards Maida Vale, and the rain has not gone far away.
The three umpires in their pink tops and black trousers have come out onto the field to inspect the pitch.
Weather update: Drizzle falls at Lord’s
As soon as the covers went on the rain was the heaviest it had been all day.
Currently it is showing no signs of abating, but the ground staff are working hard and the super-sopper has just come onto the field to try and mop up some of the additional moisture.
Weather update: Bad news at Lord’s
It’s bad news at Lord’s just 12 minutes before the game was due to start and the covers have gone back on, the stumps have come out of the ground and it looks like there will be another delay.
Australia and England announce teams
Here is a reminder of the England team:
Toss: Australia win and choose to bowl
Australia have won the toss and Mitchell Marsh has -unsurprisingly - declared they will have a bowl first in the grey overcast conditions at Lord’s.
Adam Zampa, Josh Inglis and Travis Head come into the side in place of Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie and Matt Short.
Toss update: 1.30pm
The covers are now fully off, the toss will take place at 1.30pm and the match will start at 2pm.
Toss at 1.30
Good news from Lord’s - assuming there is no further rain, the toss will take place at 1.30pm BST.
43 overs a side. Eoin Morgan says the pitch looks good and firm, with the famous drainage system doing the job on the outfield, too.
Weather update: The covers are coming off
It’s looking a lot more optimistic than it was even half an hour ago, the umpires are out and the covers are being taken off.
Here are some pictures of the ground from earlier:
Weather update: The covers are moving
For the first time today since the ground opened, there is sign of movement and the covers are being slowly rolled up.
We are a long way from actually getting any play underway, but it is a good start.
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