The rain isn't going away and the light's not getting better, so that's the end of the day's play.

We've had four overs, on wicket and one false start since 2:15pm AEDT, but no more.

Play will be scheduled to start half an hour early tomorrow (10am AEDT) and we'll be back then.

Thanks for sticking around through a typically weird day of Test cricket.

I could not agree more.

Oh, you said swap.

Hmmm, I like Brisbane early in the season before the storms roll in myself.

Try blocking your way to a draw when there's no end date.

Interestingly enough, South Africa played in the last timeless Test back in 1939.

Fifth Test at Durban was still abandoned as a draw after nine days of play spread over twelve days.

If they'd carried on playing, England would have missed the boat home.

Soft, if you ask me.

The Bureau of Meteorology radar shows that there is rain starting to develop more and more in the Sydney area.

I'm gunna say that's the day's play over, but officially we can't call it off for another 35 minutes or so.

In theory, does that mean there's still hope of some play today?

Thanks, Moira.

Steve Waugh has posted an image of a grey SCG with the lights on, urging cricket bosses to display some "common sense" and "get with the times".

"Test cricket needs to realise there is a lot of competition out there and not using the lights when the players are off for bad light simply doesn't add up. Lots of unhappy spectators who can't understand the rationale and reason for no play."

That would be 31,264 very frustrated punters, I'd imagine.

You do have to wonder what the future holds and whether a form of the game that I think it is fair to say has traditionally been rather slow to embrace innovation and change, will adapt.

The pink ball may well be the most achievable end game, but those at the MCC will need to be utterly convinced beyond doubt that the ball will behave completely the same as the red one.

Also, there are lights at almost all grounds these days. Use them.

It might even mean we get 90 overs in a day as a matter of course as well.

The hessian, the synthetic wicket cover and the big wicket block covers are all on. The sky is grey, the ground is damp, the lights are on. Not good.

Also, the groundskeepers have put down the big cover with the massive NRMA logo facing down. Someone's going to be in trouble for that.

And the bowlers' run-ups are being covered.

Just after the wicket, umpires Paul Reiffel and Chris Gaffaney checked the light and found it wasn't suitable. And there's a spittle of rain too. On comes the hessian cover.

Marnus Labuschagne will be fa-yeeeeeeewwwwwmmmminnnnn'. If it's "too dark" now, you'd have to think it was "too dark" when he got out to that ball from Nortje. You could certainly see the lights casting shadows before he went.

An absolute seed from Nortje, just nipping away and rising on Labuschagne, who gets a tickle on it on the way through to Kyle Verreynne behind the stumps and has to go for 79.

Remarkable delivery considering how low and slow the bounce has been for some bowlers on this pitch.

He starts wide and Khawaja plays a languid square drive, picking up three. So he's immediately surrendered the strike again.

Labuschagne's defence is really solid against Nortje, but he is pinned on the crease.

Marnus staying watchful outside off.

Is there perhaps a hint of reverse swing? Would seem odd in such damp conditions, but not impossible.

Tight two from Marnus off the last ball. Would've been funny if he'd turned down the second run and farmed the strike again.

Don't blame me for saying that, blame ABC Stato Ric Finlay.

Anyway, Jon's been saying for years how Manuka deserves more Tests.

Labuschagne pulls away in front of square and didn't over hit it, so he just gets two as deep square leg wheels around to get it.

And he nicks a single off the last.

Marnus is stealing the strike. Khawaja hasn't faced a ball in the first two overs after the break.

Meanwhile, at Allan Border Field, Tasmania has (eventually) completed a 72-run thrashing of the Queensland Fire in the Women's National Cricket League.

And in the nick of time too.

Queensland were toiling on 9-104 off 25.2 overs, but the final pair of Nicola Hancock (31) and Caitlin Mair (18) survived for another 8 overs before Hancock fell to Molly Strano, who extracted a catch for Lizelle Lee to take.

It's timely because a big storm is rolling across Brisbane as we speak and the visitors have managed to take the final wicket just before it's hit.

Excellent timing from the Tigers.

After an hour-and-a-half off the field, the bowlers should be well rested, so the Aussie batters need to refocus here.

Marco Jansen is around the wicket to Marnus Labuschagne. He and Usman Khawaja both have jumpers on.

First runs after the break come as Labuschagne clips to mid-wicket off his thigh.

We're back!

Play will begin shortly, and will continue until 6:30pm, plus the extra half hour.

Well, wow.

Good question Dean.

The last time a Test match did not lose time to rain at the SCG was the 3rd Test against New Zealand between January 03 - 06 in 2020.

That's just three Tests ago.

Before that, the 4th Test against India on January 06 - 10, 2015 was the last Test in Sydney not to be interrupted by rain.

That means seven of the last eight Tests in Sydney have been interrupted by rain at some stage.