Centuries by Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer laid the foundation for a big Australian total in the final Ashes Test against England at The Oval.

There was a delayed start and two rain interruptions but they reached 277-2, just 96 runs in arrears.

Hayden's century was his first in Tests since July last year and he was 110 not out at the close.

Langer played on to Steve Harmison for 105 and Andrew Flintoff had Ricky Ponting caught at gully for 35.

LATEST ACTION (all times BST)

CLOSE OF PLAY: Australia 277-2

1820: The umpires come to the middle to discuss the light. They offer Australia's batsmen the opportunity to go off and they take up the offer. That's the end of play for the day.

1818: There's just two overs to go until the new ball. But it's darkening out there. The umpires may soon choose to offer the light.

1813: The theme of the latest Flintoff over sees the bulky Lancastrian try to tempt Martyn into the shot with the ball drifting away from the bat. Martyn, however, is not tempted.

1808: Hayden tries to swat Giles over his head. He slightly fluffs the shot but still gets a single.

1803: The crowd are getting very vocal again, helped on this occasion by a Flintoff bouncer to Martyn. The bowler and batsman swap a smile but that round goes to Flintoff as does the next when he beats the bat again.

1758: Damien Martyn opens his account by driving Flintoff for four. But Flintoff tries to show him who's boss the next ball as he beats the outside edge of Martyn's bat.

1755: WICKET Australia 264-2 (Ponting 35)
A muddied Flintoff - fresh from his earlier acrobatics (see 1741) - enters the bowling attack once more and it brings an immediate result. The ball bounces a tad higher than Ponting realises and he cuts it to gully. An outstretched Andrew Strauss is the man who takes it, scooping it up just before it bounces.

1752: The constant refrain of "come on Gilo" comes from the lips of Geraint Jones. Giles certainly does his best in response but he can't shift Hayden or Ponting... for now.

1749: It's towel time for the Aussie batsmen. MacGill brings out a towel to enable the sweaty duo to dry themselves in what are still quite muggy conditions.

1747: Harmison is failing to consistently bowl the right line and length at the moment. Ponting treats any indiscretion with disdain, smacking one clear of the off-side fielders to see four more tick over on the scoreboard.

1744: Giles appeals to Bowden's good nature as he strikes Hayden well on the pad. "No way," is Bowden's answer - the ball had landed outside the off stump and was missing the stumps.

1741: Some Flintoff acrobatics help halt a certain four. The crowd love it and Australia only manage to run two. Harmison, the current bowler, applauds in approval.

1738: Australia appear to be trying to work the ball around the park a bit more. It may be Ponting has decided a more attacking approach is required for a game they have to win to retain the Ashes.

1734: Hayden moves onto 104 as he whips the ball down to square leg. He decides from the outset to run for two. A poor throw by Flintoff helps his cause.

1728: Bowden calls play, Giles whips the ball in and Ponting arcs back to hit a single past point. That finishes the over and Harmison takes the ball at the other end.

1726: Here we go again as Hayden and Ponting make their way to the middle.

1721: The light is getting brighter now and there's no moisture in the air. However, though, the outfield is still pretty wet. The pitch itself, however, is pretty dry.

Gordon Lithgow, via email:
The light is terrible here west of London in Idaho, USA. It might even rain. Makes me feel at home. Last night I imagined rain battering off the outfield all day but now, I must admit, I would prefer to see the game played out, winner take all. It's the only way we are going to get a whinge-free Ashes.

1709: The covers are being taken off and play will resume at 1730, although it must be said that it's still very grey overhead.

Frank Kearns, via email:
Ponting talked at Trent Bridge of "the spirit of the game". Not showing much spirit today at The Oval - he knew he hit that ball and should have walked.

1656: There's no indication of when play might resume at The Oval. It's still pretty dark overhead.

1643: The umpires are inspecting the pitch now and could yet make the decision to get back playing as soon as possible. It's brigher overhead now.

Andy Crane, via email
Are the umpires committed to ensuring an exciting end? They've missed two lbws and a catch now - four down would be a significantly different proposition. It seems that lady luck is giving the "rub of the Baggy Green" at the moment or at least Billy Bowden is. Come on England - we don't need rain, we can outplay them again.

1630: The covers are once more a familiar sight in the middle of the field at The Oval. There's some suggestion it might just be a passing shower, but that remains to be seen.

1626: Vaughan comes off the field after seemingly injuring himself when he slips while fielding. He is replaced by Gary Pratt for all of five seconds before play is stopped because of the latest downpour.

1621: Hayden finally ends his horror run of poor form in the Test series as he drives Flintoff for four. It's the 21st century of his career and he goes past 6,000 runs in Test match cricket in the process. He is immediately congratulated by a smiling Flintoff.

1619: There's a split in the conditions over The Oval now. One half sees thinnish cloud, with the sun battling to get through. The other is a mass of grey clouds. It doesn't look that promising.

1616: There's something of a stalemate between Giles and Ponting in that latest over until the penultimate ball when Giles releases a loosener and Ponting treats it with disdain. Four more runs.

1609: Ian Bell flings himself to the ground for a brilliant catch. The only problem, umpire Billy Bowden tells Bell, the bowler Giles and his team-mates, is that Ricky Ponting failed to hit it. Replays, however, suggest the Australian captain did.

1606: Hayden charges confidently down the wicket to Giles. It's all a bit of a waste, though, and he plays a forward defensive before back-stepping to his crease. Two balls later he edges it in between the keeper and slip. It brings an enormous sigh from the crowd.

1602: The skies are brighter than they have been almost all day. That might be helping Hayden see the ball. He moves to 81 with his 12th boundary - perhaps most notable for an unsuccesful but slightly painful-looking dive by Kevin Pietersen.

1559: Stuart MacGill appears on the boundary rope with some drinks - sadly for him that's the closest he's got to Ashes action this summer.

1554: Harmison belts out an lbw appeal against Hayden with a certain amount of gusto. Koertzen correctly rejects it. He does the same the following delivery but a good spell from Harmison.

1551: Giles is brought into the attack. And immediately his spin comes into play Australia pass the 200-run mark.

1548: Ponting's timing may have been off a minute ago (1547) but he makes no mistake with the easiest of boundaries. He hardly breaks a sweat as he merely guides it away for four. That takes his total to six.

1547: Ponting gets himself in all sorts of bother after an absolute belter from Harmison. He takes his eye off the ball as he hooks it. He lofts the ball high into the air but, lucky for him, there are no fielders in place to take it.

1544: The crowd are singing in approval of Flintoff as he charges in for his latest blast at Ponting and Hayden. The Australian duo are unfazed.

1538: Hayden takes evasive action to avoid a Harmison rising delivery. He almost nonchalantly gets his bat in the way and it skids down for four. That takes him on to 74.

1533: Flintoff opens the bowling at the other end. It's a tight first six deliveries but Australia still add one to their total.

1528: Harmison opens the bowling - he has two balls remaining of his current over. Ponting survives both of them without scoring.

1525: England's players are back out on the field and are quickly followed by Hayden, unbeaten on 70, and Ponting, who has yet to face a ball.

1518: The last of the covers are finally being pushed off the field, which brings up one of the biggest cheers of the day from the crowd. A little over 10 minutes before the players come back out on the field.

1512: Play is scheduled to restart at 1530. The players are all currently having tea.

1502: The umpires are out on the pitch now. Things look brighter but there is still a fair amount of dark, grey cloud overhead at The Oval. The covers are being peeled off one by one now in quick succession.

Colin Gazeley, via email:
Hello from Belgrade, Serbia. We have the weather you don't want as an England supporter - sunshine.

1448: Tea, which was going to be taken at 1540, will now take place at 1510.

1443: The cover that was initially peeled back (see 1435 and 1439) is put back on. There's no play coming for now.

1439: The removal of a solitary cover moments ago (see 1435) may have been a false dawn. The rest are staying firmly on the field at The Oval... for now.

1435: The first cover is peeled off from the outfield at Lord's. It's not clear when play will resume though yet.

Cricket legend Richie Benuad, covering his last Test in England, on Test Match Special
I'm not sad in the slightest to be retiring. I am very happy that I've had the opportunity for 42 years of being part of television, having started with BBC radio in 1960. Radio was the beginning for me with the BBC, but from 1963 through to now (first with the BBC, latterly with Channel 4) I've had the privilege of being able to go into everyone's home, as an invited guest, and talk to them through a microphone, and it's been great fun.

1421: There's some movement with the covers but, for now, it looks like the groundsmen are just straightening them up and the covers are staying as they are.

Pete Robinson, Croydon, via email
Here in Croydon - seven miles from The Oval - the sun's been out all day. The cricket gods are with us!

1409: The rain has just about stopped at The Oval and the umbrellas have come down on the whole.

Peter Cullen, via email:
I've just finished cleaning the windows here in Luxembourg - bit of extra water left if needed. Come on England!

1359: The rain couldn't be coming down any heavier now if it tried. It looks like there will be a reasonably long break from play.

Greg Fisher, via email:
Lovely knock from Langer and very well played. I have always thought that on a team of sometimes questionable sportsmanship he is one of the truly straight-playing, honourable men.

Kevin Hunt, via email:
I'm sitting and watching the cricket online from Algiers. Just to let you know that our rain clouds are heading north - that's got to be a good sign. Come on England.

1340: The majority of covers are now in place at The Oval. The latest rain immediately sends a swathe of spectators out of their seats and heading for cover.

1337: Ricky Ponting steps onto the pitch but is immediately sent back as the umpires call a halt to play because of the heavy rain. Bad timing by Langer.

1336: WICKET Australia 185-1 (Langer 105)
Harmison gets a bit of good fortune as Langer plays on. It's the end of an excellent knock, which is duly recognised by an applauding crowd.

1332: Langer cuts the ball low and through the slip cordon to find the boundary rope and bring up his century. It's the 22nd time he's passed the 100-mark. He blows a kiss up to his team-mates in the pavilion in celebration. He picks up his 7,000th run in Tests in the process - passing Sir Don Bradman in the process.

1331: The coats go on, there are umbrellas in abundance and the odd programme is being used to keep spectators dry. The rain's quite heavy now.

1329: Flintoff is totally unsighted as Hayden lofts the ball over Giles. To be fair to the Lancastrian, he wouldn't have been able to stop the four even if he had spotted the ball.

1326: Harmison ends his over with a flourish but an lbw appeal against Langer is rejected, quite fairly as it happened - Langer looked to have hit it.

1322: Giles is trying to land the ball on the rough stuff outside the left-handers' off stump. He gets one delivery to deviate quite a lot. For the rest of the time, Hayden and Langer are happy to prod away.

1316: Rain is coming down but it's nothing major at the moment. Harmison is given the go ahead by the umpires to trundle in.

1315: Australia's openers suggest they're going to take an attacking approach to Giles. They both charge down the wicket from the "King of Spain's" first over.

1311: Ashley Giles gets the ball for the first time on day three.

1309: The resumption of play is just moments away. Umpire Koertzen is involved in a serious-looking chat with England's players. The seriousness doesn't last long before smiles break out on the faces of Koertzen, Vaughan and Hoggard.

LUNCH: Australia 157-0

1231: Harmison fires down the last over before lunch. It's nothing particularly special and it results in three runs, two courtesy of a Flintoff slip-up in the field.

1227: There's a handful of fans out there summing up the feelings of much of England's supporters nationwide. Their T-shirts are bedecked with "let it rain, let it rain, let it rain".

1225: Having reached his half-century, Hayden is beginning to unleash some big shots. A wayward Hoggard delivery is swatted to the boundary before England's fielders even have a chance to react.

1220: Harmison is brought back into the attack for his ninth over of the innings. It starts poorly and Hayden smacks a Harmy long-hop to the mid-wicket boundary. It takes him on to 55.

1217: In something of a rare outing, the sun darts out of the clouds at The Oval. As it does so, Gary Pratt appears on the boundary rope so it could be replacement time for England once more.

1213: Flintoff gets the ball to nip back delightfully into Hayden. The bulky Australian opener replies by reaching his fifty the next ball with a simple stab off the back foot to the leg side. It's taken him a monumental 137 balls - not one of his most blistering knocks.

1210: The rain shower seems to have dampened the enthusiasm of the crowd. That's unlikely to last, though. Hoggard continues his good spell by conceding just a single.

1206: Flintoff resumes with three balls left of his over. He concedes just one more run in the process.

1203: Hayden and Langer once more carry out their limbering-up routine. There's much swinging of the bat and loosening of the limbs as they come out to face England's bowlers once more.

1157: Play will now resume at 1205. The ground staff are doing their level best to mop up the wet patches in the outfield.

1153: The covers are coming off at The Oval and everyone will be hopeful the action will resume in the next few minutes.

Argonaut_01 on the TMS messageboards:
I think both the Aussies and the English should lodge an official complaint about the umpiring in this match as Billy Bowden has either no idea about the lbw law or his judgement of width is non-existent. Rudi Koertzen clearly cannot hear as he has missed two of the clearest examples of caught behind you will ever see. It's sad when umpires have such an impact on the outcome of matches.

1140: The groundsmen are out there in force, with all the covers being moved into place. The skies, though, are relatively bright. Australia, in particular, will hope they're not off the field for too long.

1136: The umpires have no choice but to come off as the rain starts pelting down out there. Langer is on 86, Hayden on 47.

1134: The first substitution of the day sees Ricky Ponting's favourite man, Gary Pratt, come on the field for Ashley Giles. His arrival is greeted by the rain. The umbrellas start to go up and the rain jackets are dragged on.

1132: It's action packed throughout on day three. Hayden breathes a sigh of relief as his wayward shot is nearly taken by Andrew Strauss in the slip cordon. Hoggard looks a tad aggrieved.

1130: Kevin Pietersen is called into action for the first time. Langer strides forward to guide the ball through the covers. The England fielder gets covered in mud and grass for his efforts but it still gets through him for four. The next ball he successfully fields it... to a very sarcastic cheer from the crowd.

1125: There's a host of famous faces already in today. They include former Prime Minister John Major, actress Penelope Keith, ex-Mirror editor Piers Morgan, actor Stephen Fry and David Frost.

1121: Hoggard's first delivery from his latest over heads a little too down the leg-side. Hayden gives it the appropriate treatment to flick it off his legs and move to 41. Seconds later Hoggard gets the line just right but his lbw appeal falls on deaf ears.

1116: The crowd and the players shout in unison for an lbw appeal against Langer. Flintoff looks convinced, umpire Rudi Koertzen doesn't.

1111: Collingwood is in the thick of it today. He flies through the air to try to catch Hayden but the ball is travelling just too fast to get to it.

1107: There's nearly a dire mix-up with the batsmen in Andrew Flintoff's first over. Langer's almost made his way down the pitch when his fellow opener sends him back. But he scrambles home before Paul Collingwood can whip the ball back.

1104: The day's second ripple of applause from the crowd as Hoggard finishes a fine first over. Among those applauding are a selection of the crowd bedecked in water melon hats. The mind boggles.

1100: Matthew Hoggard is given the honour of opening the bowling on day three - it's no surprise considering the weather, which ought to suit his conventional swing. He screams for an lbw appeal with his first ball to Justin Langer. His appeal is turned down... but a sprightly start.

1057: The umpires come out onto the field, closely followed by the players. They are greeted with a rapturous applause by a full house at The Oval.

1055: Jerusalem is being belted out by the crowd to give England a boost before they come out for the start of play.

John Carley via email:
People have been speculating on the reason for Australia's odd decision to take the light yesterday. Simple - they are beaten and need an excuse. "We would have been able to level the series but for the rotten English weather."

1048: It's looking a bit threatening again now at The Oval. The clouds are thickening and the flags above the pavilion are hanging there limply.

From Swlabr via email:
Today will be damp and overcast - Hoggy territory, providing play is possible. The Aussies will be crying in their so-called amber nectar.

1030: The outfield is now being dried. Things are definitely brighter at the ground and should be good enough to see everyone through to lunch without any more delays.

1021: The umpires have just announced that play will begin at 1100. The roller is currently going up and down the pitch.

1019: The sun is almost burning off some cloud over The Oval...well, almost. And you can hear the sound of bat on ball as the players put the finishing touches to their preparations for day three.

1011: The umpires are to inspect the pitch at 1015 with the aim of starting on time - 1030. There is still a little dampness under foot out there.