4pm: I have news for you, but it's not good: the match has been abandoned. Seems like the surface was never going to recover, after all the rain of the last 24 hours. Lee sparkled from the off and there was a brief glimpse of Pat Cummins ... but we'll have to wait until next Friday to see the Aussies in one-day action again. We'll bring you full coverage of that game, as well as tomorrow's T20I between England and West Indies; let's hope the weather plays ball. Thanks for your messages, but it's ta ra for now.

3.55pm: "Black Caviar wins again for all those interested," emails James. Meh. Sam, meanwhile, has revealed himself as a teacher's pet: "Na I'm school captain and he is a cricket fanatic like me. Staying up for the cricket is all worth it."

3.25pm: "At a boarding school in Sydney way past my bedtime," says Sam. "Is there any positive news?" I wonder what your house master would make of you being on the internet way past your bedtime, Sam ... The umpires have just had a squelch around the square, where water is seeping up to greet each footstep. Still almost two hours until the official cut off time but, as we've said before, the outlook is soggier than SpongeBob SquarePants taking his convertible through a carwash.

3.05pm: Covers back on, umbrellas back up. Nicht gut.

2.50pm: The umpires will make another inspection at 3.15pm. Unfortunately, it looks as if the dark clouds may be about to close in again.

As we're forced to while away the time, you need to see this ECB video to promote the FLt20 - Bremner does Bumble. Close your eyes and imagine you're in Accrington.

2.45pm: Discussions between umpires and captains appear to be ongoing (though the umpires do have the final say). There's plenty of sawdust on the edges of the square, where water has left the pitch a little precarious; the bowlers' run-ups are also an area of concern. The main question, barring more rain, seems to be whether Clarke and Porterfield are happy to resume in slightly greasy, slippery conditions.

2.10pm: With the skies clear(ish), the players are currently taking lunch and there will be another inspection by the umpires at 2.40pm. The local, Mark Hawthorne, says they're told more rain is on the way but, for now, digits are being crossed.

1.55pm: Ooh, look at that: a glimpse of blue sky above the ground. I don't want to unnecessarily get your hopes up - or distract from discussions of equine chauvinism - but the groundstaff are again trying to get the pitch ready for a resumption. It'll take them a while, even if the rain doesn't return. The cut-off time, in order to fit in a 20-over match, is 5.15pm.

1.45pm: We're back to heavy rain in Belfast, which isn't good for the prospects of this match.

"Surely, Sean, you will stay up to watch the mighty Aussie mare Black Caviar go for her 22nd straight win at Ascot in front of the Queen tonight," says Andrew. "Where's the patriotism?" Do horses have a sense of nationality?

1.35pm: "Could you please update the weather," says Sean Mundie in Australia, "as I would like to know whether to stay up or go to bed please." I'll forgive you mistaking me for a meteorologist, Sean, and suggest you give up on this one in favour of your beauty sleep. No news is not good news when it comes to rain delays in the United Kingdom.

1.25pm: Looks like the rain has abated again, with attempts being made to mop up. Apparently the DJ at the ground has just been playing Walking on Sunshine ... The famous Irish sense of humour there.

12.40pm: Hold on to your rain hat - the covers are being dragged back on (many of them by hand). Everyone is pitching in to help the groundstaff at this picturesque Stormont ground but the weather is in no mood to follow suit. According to the radar, Ireland looks set for the full spin cycle today, sadly.

12.30pm: The downpour has ceased pouring for now and the umpires are taking a look at the pitch. Groundstaff preparing to remove the covers, will let you know of a restart time as soon as we hear it.

12.15pm: And the rain has now got visibly heavier, the players go dashing off to the changing rooms as the covers are wheeled on to the wicket. This is frustrating - though Lee has a smile on his face as he bounds over the outfield towards cover. The weather forecast is muckier than a two-year-old's bib from here on out and I wager we'll not be back on for a bit ...

Rain beginning to fall again. They'll continue for now ...