Uncle Allen Madden has SCG in stitches during Welcome to Country

It may well have been a good thing that the start of play in the fourth Ashes Test was delayed, because the crowd certainly needed a moment to settle down after a hilarious Welcome to Country at the SCG.

Uncle Allen Madden brought the house down during the traditional acknowledgement of the owners of the land, throwing a few jokes in to keep the crowd on their toes.

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His unconventional delivery of the Welcome to Country had Australian spinner Nathan Lyon cracking up, as well as many inside the rain-soaked SCG.

With play constantly interrupted by rain on the morning of the fourth Test, Madden's unique approach was a welcome one.

From the moment he approached the microphone, it was clear he was planning on doing things a little differently.

"For my first song..." he cheekily quipped before he began.

Uncle Allen later cracked that there were only three things in life surer than the SCG's place on Aboriginal land - 'coming, taxation, and going'.

His final quip was enough to leave the Australian side in hysterics and the SCG crowd completely enamoured.

“There’s an old Aboriginal saying out there, and I think it’s very appropriate for you mob here today. They say where there’s a will, there’s relatives," he cracked, to rapturous applause.

Uncle Allen's memorable Welcome to Country also garnered quite a reaction on social media.

Australia 0-30 as rain halts play at SCG

David Warner has lifted Australia to 0-30 on a stop-start opening day of the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney, where rain has caused multiple delays.

Warner is 15 not out, having already driven three boundaries, while Marcus Harris is unbeaten on 11 after 12.3 overs.

The start of play at the SCG was pushed back to 11am AEDT because of showers, while more rain stopped play twice in the morning session.

Further rain is expected on Wednesday and throughout the match.

Warner and Harris negotiated Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad's opening spell with few nervous moments.

Express paceman Mark Wood was halfway through his first over when umpires called for the covers at 12.33pm AEDT.

Lunch was taken shortly after, with umpires hopeful the second session will start at 1.30pm.

Pat Cummins opted to bat under overcast skies, backing Warner and Harris to excel on a green-tinged pitch.

"It looks a really good batting wicket," the Australia skipper said after winning the toss.

"Probably more grass than we normally expect here.

"Openers have to work hard this morning, but runs are there.

"SCG has always been a bat-first wicket."

England captain Joe Root said he would also have batted first if given the chance.

With AAP

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