Thanks very much James, fine work sir. I bring good news; we're going to restart at 14:25 BST, barring a down-turn in the weather. The mopping-up job is continuing out on the pitch with brooms sweeping away puddles and sheets being dragged off the surface.

Image source, Getty Images

Right, it's time for me to leave you for the afternoon. Hoping to take you through some cricket and not commentate on two hours of rainfall, Phil Dawkes...

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"As a head coach you have to be able to make appointments of your own. He has to trust his own scouts to be his eyes around the county scene. That is why I felt sorry for Peter Moores, because he was appointed and all the people were already in place."

Maverick: When Australia beat us this summer, everyone will say that Gillespie was on their side and call for him to be sacked.

The groundstaff get to work, peeling back the acres of covers. Fingers crossed - it looks there might be some play soon. But no word on when.

The umpires are ambling out to have a look at a pitch. Good luck, chaps - it's still under the covers. Head groundsman Mick Hunt is out there, as is MCC head of cricket John Stephenson. A glance at the watch from umpire Marais Erasmus...

Derek Carter: Any coach taking a job with an appointed captain and not able to pick his players is already not his own man.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"He has that lovely knack of making people feel comfortable in his company. When he produces a kid from the second team he will tell them he has picked them because he thinks he is good enough so he is expected to perform.

"The captain has huge authority in selection and that must continue. Gillespie is not the kind of man to disrupt that."

Alec Stewart
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"He mustn't change because England are going to sign him up for what he is. I don't what the ECB remoulding him. Just let him carry on in the same vein.

"I don't believe the captain should have an actual vote in selection. I'd get rid of all votes. There's not enough accountability. Either Andrew Strauss picks the squad and hands it over to the coach and captain to pick the final XI, or he lets Gillespie get on with it."

Ian Hobart: Maybe we could sign up the weather as coach? Might be the only thing that saves us this summer...

Image source, AP

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's

"It might just be brightening up. The sky is definitely lighter, the fourth umpire is out having a look (with his umbrella down) and the groundstaff are starting to mop up. Fans have retaken their seats and a man is whizzing a tractor round the outfield. Stand by."

It's looking slightly brighter at Lord's, where there will be a pitch inspection at 14:15 BST. We will bring you more news when we have it

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"I hope he can continue being the person that he is. At Yorkshire he is a total breathe of fresh air. He is open with the media and never hides behind anything. He gives a straight answer so you know where you stand."

Alec Stewart
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"So much information is given to players, so much is told to them about how to behave off the field, that they stop thinking for themselves on the field. You yourself have got to be the decision-maker on the field.

"When Darren Lehmann took the Australia job, he turned them back into a team from being individuals. If Jason Gillespie takes over with England, I reckon he's got a great chance of doing something similar."

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"I thought he was a nice bloke. In Adelaide in my first Ashes series, I was caught at point off Bichel and it went to review and it got overturned. I got a big score and not one Australia player came up and congratulated me afterwards but Jason Gillespie.

"He'll admit he is a proper cricket geek. He is up on all the tournaments and competitions and he knows all the players' numbers. He is a cricket badger.

"In selection, if English cricket thinks it will be the same with Gillespie in charge they need to think again. He will want it his way. He will want a big impact on where the team are going in all three formats. He keeps it simple and expects simplicity in terms of players. It might be an eye-opener for some players that he expects them to make decisions."

Scott Hunt: I was with Peter Siddle a couple of weeks ago when he said Australia would never appoint an Englishman. Enough said!

Alec Stewart
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"The England coaching job is just full-time. Getting away to breathe is nigh on impossible. You will always see that until, five or 10 years down the line, the structure has changed.

"Nothing at all about Gillespie as a player made me think he could be a coach. But he played at a time that Australia were dominating the world, and so he'd have picked up lots of good things from great players.

"At times you will have to dictate to the team, but it's so important to give players the confidence to make mistakes."

Jamie Tabor: Are we forgetting that Andy Flower was born in South Africa and played for Zimbabwe? Is an Aussie any different?

Christo EL: What is the difference between Gillespie coaching England and Flower or Fletcher? Nationality should not be an issue.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Many coaches feel they have to separate themselves from the players. Gillespie does have that but he is mainly in the thick of it with the players. He is in there with fines night and team celebrations. He doesn't think the distance should be that great - that is his style of management.

"England are away from home 227 days this year and the coach is right there with them. Cricket coaching is different to football, where you may need that distance."

Dan Goodman: How can you criticise England's every move for a lack of ambition, then bemoan the potential appointment of the best candidate?

Dan Crerand: Beating the Aussies with help from an Aussie... just think of the bragging rights there. Gillespie is a proven winner, fact.

Beth: We need to think about the quality of coach we are getting, not where they are from. We shouldn't care where the coach is from.