We mentioned earlier that John Cleese has been at Taunton this week. Here's the proof.

Either John has shrunk a bit or Roelof is taller than we thought.

Two slips and a gully in place here for Luis Reece but his radar isn't quite 100% yet, ranging from wide of off to down the leg side.

Anuj Dal continues from the Nursery End.

A lofty drive through the covers gets Harris off the mark with a four.

He's already gone past 1000 runs in first-class this season and he's now managed that many in the Championship alone.

Only the fifth player to do so in Division Two (and the sixth overall) in 2019 with just a couple of Championship days left.

Image source, Getty Images

Harris leaves Dal outside off stump. 92 overs left? Don't count on it.

Luis Reece bowls from the Pavilion End and a half volley is stroked through cover for four.

That takes him past 1000 Championship runs for the season.

News of a signing by Sussex for the 2020 season.

Not the brightest of days here but good enough to get back on the park.

Hmm. The floodlights are on.

Dawid Malan resumes on 66 not out.

James Harris is yet to face a ball after John Simpson was dismissed just before play ended early yesterday.

Anuj Dal has two balls left in his 12th over.

from @dickiepryde: "#bbccricket, external Who would have thought playing Championship cricket in the last week in September, titles and promotion would have been affected by the weather!! Reduce the rounds of games by 2 maybe? Finish in early September."

Image source, Rex Features

Umpires Alex Wharf (left, with brolly) and Rob Bailey (right) are taking a look at Taunton.

Let's hope it won't be long before they tell the players: "Enough lounging about, get your kit on."

UPDATE: There will be a further inspection at 12:00.

So let's remind you of the current situation at our nine grounds.

• Middlesex v Derbyshire - play to start at 11:15
• Somerset v Essex - inspection 11:00
• Surrey v Nottinghamshire - inspection 11:30
• Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire - inspection 12:00
• Sussex v Worcestershire - early lunch at 12:00 followed by inspection
• Kent v Hampshire - early lunch at 12:30
• Warwickshire v Yorkshire - early lunch at 12:00, inspection at 13:00
• Durham v Glamorgan - early lunch at 12:00
• Leicestershire v Lancashire - no play before lunch

Expect tough batting conditions here.

There's always a bit of help for the bowlers with the Lord's slope and there's bound to be a bit more given the overhead conditions.

No more rain. Please.

Just a short delay here on a very gloomy day for cricket overall.

Dawid Malan (66*) needs just one more run to notch up 1000 in the Championship alone for the season.

Image source, Rex Features

Essex head coach Anthony McGrath insists they are unfazed by the challenge of batting on a spinning pitch at Taunton as they try to avoid conceding a first-innings deficit to title rivals Somerset.

A draw would be enough to see Essex repeat their 2017 Championship win, having gone into the game with a 12-point lead, while Somerset have to win.

"The pitch has turned from ball one and some have gone through the surface. But that is nothing to do with me. We play the conditions in front of us," he said.

The home side reached 203 all out thanks to Roelof van der Merwe's 60 and McGrath added: "He was very positive against Simon Harmer, who has had a brilliant season, so fair play to him. We now have to bat well, but we are right in the game.”

Earlier this week, we revealed our county team of the season, as chosen by you. Click here to remind yourselves of who made the final XI.

Today, though, we are pinching the Desert Island Discs format (sort of) and asking you to tell us the name of the individual who deserves the title 'player of the season'.

Dom Sibley? Darren Stevens? Simon Harmer? Dane Vilas? Or is there someone else more deserving?

Let us know who you'd choose and tell us why. It's your chance to be part of this text commentary!!

The local forecast is at its worst in the morning - so it can only get better.

Image source, Rex

Somerset all-rounder Roelof van der Merwe urged his team-mates not to try and rush to make things happen as they look for Essex wickets on day three of the title decider.

His aggressive 60 enabled the Cider Men to post a 200+ total, but they still need 20 Essex wickets to win the game - and a first County Championship.

"We knew that anything around 200 would be a good score and it was my day. On a turning wicket I came through," he said.

Van der Merwe is one of three spinners in the home attacvk and added: "“We just have to be patient in the way we go about things, not worry too much about the scoreboard and land the ball in good areas."

Cumbrian cricketer Ben Stokes could be made a Freeman of the Borough of Allerdale.

The motion's been put forward by Councillor Paul Scott, who says Stokes deserves the honour for his "dedication and commitment" throughout his career as well as his recent performance in the Ashes test match series.

Stokes grew up in Allerdale, going to school in Cockermouth and playing cricket for the town club.

It was a frustrating day for the players yesterday because of the rain, and it was a frustrating day for radio commentators too - BBC Radio Derby's Dave Fletcher got his trousers soaked and had to use a towel to temporarily 'cover his modesty'.

Undaunted, our BBC 5 Live Sports Extra and BBC local radio teams are in their seats again to bring you ball-by-ball coverage when play begins as the County Championship season reaches its penultimate day.

Tune into a game by choosing from the links at the top or right-hand side of this page and we will keep you posted on happenings elsewhere via this text commentary.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesex opener Sam Robson gave an insight into the different ways players fill the time during lengthy rain hold-ups after only 8.4 overs of play were possible on day two against Derbyshire.

Four matches did not see a single ball bowled on Tuesday, while only 12 deliveries were sent down in Surrey's Division One game against Nottinghamshire.

"Playing at the end of September, you half expect you are going to lose some cricket. Every player is different dealing with days like this. A lot of garbage is spoken in the dressing room, that’s for sure," said Robson.

"A few guys go to the gym, some read the paper. Guys used to play cards, but that has gone out of the game a little bit. A few of us watch the horses and have a bet, but I haven’t made any money today."

We didn't get a full day's play between Somerset and Essex yesterday - but one very well-known Somerset fan certainly had an enjoyable time at the County Ground.

Whether they need divine intervention to clinch the title remains to be seen.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Glamorgan fast bowler Marchant de Lange insists they are "still in it" despite the weather threatening to finally end their outside chances of promotion from Division Two.

They must beat Durham at the Riverside and hope Gloucestershire's game with Northants does not end in a draw - a result which would send them both up, and a result made more likely by Tuesday's wash-out in Bristol.

"We're frustrated with the weather, we knew it was coming and we'd have loved to scoop up four quick wickets early, it didn't quite go that way, but we're still in it with two days left," said de Lange.

"Everyone around the country is watching the weather and the points system, but we need to go session by session, get the bowling points, hopefully put up a good total and then it comes down to the last day."