John Nicholson: What about each team playing every other team, but like baseball in the USA regionalise the groups to formulate semi finals.

Image source, Rex Features

Some news... play will get under way in less than 15 minutes. Hooray!

Tea will be at 16:10 BST, and the final session will be from 16:30 until 18:00. It's pretty much dark beyond then, hence the shortened evening session.

13 overs have been lost.

Paul Dennis: I'd like to see an early season warm up opener (no points) between the Champs of D1 and D2 - a bit like the football Charity Shield maybe?

Steve Holford: I would rather not have first-class cricket dovetail the season in April and September.

Stuie Neale: I like the idea of a North/South division like the T20 Blast, top two in each group semis, final Lord's.

James Baker: What happens if The Bob Willis Trophy final ends in a draw?

The entry at 13:49 BST has all the answers James, but it's pretty much who has the best first-innings score.

Mr Williams has just informed me that the umpires will take another look in about 20 minutes.

Adam Williams
BBC Sport at Lord's

Image source, BBC Sport

There's a break in the rain and a bit of sunshine to go with it.

Umpires Rob Bailey and Russell Warren have just been out in the middle to carry out an inspection and chat with head groundsman Karl McDermott.

They're slowly starting to peel off the covers as well.

Hopefully we'll have some news of a resumption shortly.

According to the ECB website...

"In the event of a drawn final there will be one tie-breaker option.

"That option is that the county which leads on first innings, as long as there were two fully-completed first innings, would be deemed the winner of the final.

"In any other circumstance a drawn or tied final will see the trophy shared by the finalists."

Karl E Loxton: I’d love to see a final like this every year on free to air TV. A second point...what happens if after 5 days it’s a draw? Is it a shared trophy?

I can answer this for you Karl. Well, the ECB can...

Simon Fisher: A radical approach to domestic cricket. 8 Regional teams - all play home and away in the 3 formats. Top 4 play-off with a final. Make it the same for men and women. A simple solution for a better cricket and a more sustainable financial future.

Lot's of opinions coming in on the future of red-ball county cricket. Keep them coming, I've got plenty of time to fill!

Harry Evans: I think the Championship could mirror American sport, with North and South conferences. The top 2 teams from each would go through to 2 rounds of knockouts to determine the winner, (& could be hyped & shown on TV. Would also mean we could get rid of split divisions).

Adam Williams
BBC Sport at Lord's

Image source, Rex Features

There was a brief break in the rain a short while ago as the ground staff stepped out to the middle for a few moments.

Just as they thought about starting to mop up, the rain started again.

This could be the theme for a while sadly...

The rain had stopped...

It looks like the rain has pretty much stopped at Lord's... out come the groundstaff.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Somerset

Somerset won’t be too unhappy at losing only three wickets after being put in, even if Essex are maybe slightly ahead. The biggest loss was Tom Abell, caught behind down the leg side for the third time in the competition.Bad luck?Or a flaw in technique?

Either way, it was a cruel blow to Somerset’s hopes of big first-innings runs.

You know what, the forecast for the next few hours in the capital isn't a complete washout. And the drainage at Lord's is fantastic.

We could well get some more play.

Thanks for that rather grim update Adam.

I was meant to be taking you through this afternoon session, but as expected there will be a delayed restart.

Less than 24 hours ago I was pushing my daughter on the park swing, sunscreen slapped on, blazing sunshine.

Today... autumn has arrived big time.

Adam Williams
BBC Sport at Lord's

Image source, BBC Sport

The rain arrived not long after the players went to lunch, which is a bit earlier than it was originally forecast.

It has stopped occasionally, but the ground staff have left all the covers on as there appears to be a few more bands of showers on the way looking at the radar apps.

Even if those do miss us, it's going to take a bit of mopping up to remove the water that has fallen on the covers already.

Stu DW: I don’t like the idea of a league title being decided by a one off game. Reduces the importance of the league. However, this season is different and it’s good to see as a one off (hopefully!)

Joshua: A league format, such as the County Championship, should be won by the best team over the entire duration of a competition, so no I wouldn't like to see a solitary final for next year's CC, as it introduces too much randomness after a long season.

Your cricket fix continues later as England Women take on West Indies in the second T20 international at Derby.

England were comfortable winners in the first game on Monday thanks to Tammy Beaumont's half-century followed by some tight bowling.

There will be live text and radio commentary on the BBC Sport website and App this evening.

Image source, Getty Images