Ireland vs England LIVE: Second T20, Malahide, Dublin

'Underrated Salt on path to T20 greatness'

You will not need reminding of Phil Salt's form. 89 in the first T20 followed 141 in the third match against South Africa.

It leads produces an intriguing question. Is Phil Salt underrated?

Statistically he has been right up there with the very best in the world for some time. He is the man the IPL franchises want to have.

Stephan Shemilt has taken a look at that question

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I won't tell if you don't, Adam.

There's always lots of chat about cricket shouldn't be played in September when it rains. Had they played this next week we'd have been watching on the deckchairs.

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It's not ideal, is it? In the meantime we'll just have to chat.

Tips for passing the time, England's best T20 XI, why my dishwasher keeps beeping. Whatever you like.

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Stephan Shemilt

BBC Sport chief cricket reporter in Malahide

We might be bordering on farce here. The umpires say there are two patches of the outfield that are problematic, but in these conditions they aren't going to dry naturally. There's no obvious attempt to get them dry, either.

England have been playing football for half an hour. No evidence in that game to suggest the underfoot conditions are tricky.

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Jonathan Bradley

BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Malahide

The England players are still happily continuing their game of keepy-uppies just in front of the media tent here in Malahide.

You would have to say, though, that the number of umbrellas popping up among the optimistic number who have already taken their seats in the stands does not bode well...

'It's been great fun'

England player Luke Wood on the opening match of the series: "It was a pretty exciting game for the spectators, high-scoring game in the end. We probably let them get too many in the middle there but it was a good high-scoring wicket. Good game all around."

"We managed to get there the day before. We got a feel for the dimensions and took it all in. It was good fun. The crowd is quite close which makes you feel smaller but it was a great pitch."

"We’ve played a bit of golf, the lads have enjoyed it. One good thing about touring here is that we’re experiencing different things. It’s been great fun."

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Umpires Aidan Seaver and Jonathan Kennedy talking to TNT Sports about the prospect of play: "There are a couple of soft areas in the outfield but if the weather doesn't deteriorate, we're hopeful of a game of some sort.

"There is rain around. The groundstaff have said once it's playable they will need 30-45 minutes to get it ready to play. As long as it doesn't start raining that is the main thing."

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