Thanks, Rob... Very much looking forward to these sorts of comments next year during the Ashes when the most northerly Test is at Trent Bridge.

Mark my words, folks, for that reason alone, I think we can expect a scorcher of a 2027 summer up north as the rain falls down south.

We're told tea will be taken in around 20 minutes, 15:40 BST - the traditional time when a Test isn't plagued by rain.

The evening session would then start at 16:00 and go through to 19:00, with an extra half hour available to complete the overs.

All very nice to know but it is still absolutely hosing it down so don't start planning things around a restart in 40 minutes.

Of course, one of the reasons why those with day four tickets have been praying for rain today is this Lord's pitch.

Bowler-friendly would be an understatement. We've seen 35 wickets go down already and we've not even had the equivalent of two full days' play in terms of overs.

It has been so tough for the batters that Michael Vaughan is actually feeling sorry for them...

"It's not a test for the bowlers, because it has been too easy. This isn't a fair balance between bat and ball," former England captain Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special.

"The MCC [Marylebone Cricket Club] know this pitch isn't up to standard.

"I feel sorry for the batters. This is the best place to play cricket. I feel very fortunate that I didn't have to bat on many pitches like this."

Read more about the issues with the Lord's pitch here.

I get it, Paul, and the way things are looking, you may well get your wish.

You've got to feel for those who are at Lord's today, though. Poor old Lawrie can't even watch the French Open final while the rain falls!

Very much out of my remit, Lawrie. Best I can do for you is offer up our wonderful BBC Sport live text of that women's final at Roland Garros.

No change at Lord's, I'm afraid. Covers still firmly in place and no sign of the groundstaff.

Hang in there, people, all hope of more play is not lost... yet.

Full covers are now on. The rain is falling steadily.

Go and get yourselves a cuppa, folks.

Here is the second wicket from that passage of play.

Ollie Robinson again, pinning Daryl Mitchell lbw, with assists for Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith for getting the latter up to the stumps to keep the batter in his ground.

All very frustrating and it is raining that bit harder now.

Short and sweet but long enough for England to take two big wickets. It is hard to see anything but a win for the home side now.

Ollie Robinson now has seven wickets in his comeback Test...

Rain stops playpublished at 21.3 overs

21.3 overs

NZ 55-5 | Target 254

Uh oh. The umpires are chatting again and they're taking the players off.

A little bit of rain and some bad light. The combination is enough to end this latest passage of play.

It's not raining that I can see - there are no umbrellas up, anyway - but the umpires come together for a quick chat.

Issues with the light? It is very gloomy but they're staying out there for now.

England will be keen to play on for as long as possible in these conditions.

Ashwanth R Kavuluri
CricViz analyst

Most dismissals via bowled & lbw in a match in England since 2019:

• 22 - Eng v NZ, Lord's, 2026*
• 20 - Eng v Ire, Lord's, 2019
• 19 - Eng v Ind, Lord's 2025
• 19 - Eng v Ind, The Oval, 2025

Good running from New Zealand as Tom Blundell drops the ball towards point and sets off for a quick single.

That's the only run from Josh Tongue's latest.

Jamie Smith stays up to the stumps and Ollie Robinson continues to zero in on the stumps.

Tom Blundell gets to the safety of the non-striker's end with a single before Devon Conway just gets his bat down in time to prevent the ball thudding into his front pad.

New Zealand are still 200 away from their target with only five wickets in hand and treacherous conditions for batting.