Another bright morning at Wantage Road - but whether the bowlers will have sunshine in their hearts after another day with the Kookaburra ball remains to be seen.

Northamptonshire resume on 311-3 with Emilio Gay 165 not out, hoping to become the first batter to score a double-century for the county against Middlesex in the Championship. Remarkably, no-one has reached that milestone for Northamptonshire in first-class cricket since Ben Duckett off Kent's attack eight years ago.

But with the second new ball just 16 overs old, Middlesex skipper Toby Roland-Jones and his colleagues will hope to make early inroads this morning and avoid a repeat of their lengthy bout of leather-chasing against Glamorgan at Lord's last time out.

What's this? A full house?

For the first time this season, play is set to begin on time at 11:00 BST at all nine matches around the country.

Gloucestershire resume on 28-2 in Bristol, trailing Yorkshire by 298 after Shan Masood's fine hundred. They will look to Australia batter Cameron Bancroft for a sizeable contribution.

Derbyshire's Alex Thomson was the bowling hero on day one anywhere with a career-best 7-65. Now it is up to the batters to make inroads into Glamorgan's 237, as they begin on 46-1.

Another man to go big on day one was Northamptonshire's Emilio Gay. He resumes on 165 not out and his side 311-3 against Middlesex. It is already his highest score, but can he make a double?

No hundreds on day one in Leicester, but Liam Trevaskis may be eyeing one today. He is on 82 not out as Leicestershire pick up on 326-8 versus Sussex.

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Signing countless autographs and bowling 32 overs yesterday meant that Australia star Nathan Lyon provided a treat for all concerned at Utilita Bowl on day one.

His removal of Nick Gubbins and James Vince when both had passed 50 just about kept Hampshire in check.

With four wickets left of their first innings, this morning session is crucial.

Get past 400 and they take control of the game. If Lancashire can skittle them, they will feel they have done a good job after losing the toss.

If Lyon has a big bowling stint today, we know who will be on top.

Image source, Rex Features

With three Worcestershire old boys in the Nottinghamshire line-up, the chances were that at least one of them would make an impact against their former team at Trent Bridge.

So far, it’s Joe Clarke who has taken his chance to shine, hitting 105 to help Notts – whose side also features ex-Pears Jack Haynes and Dillon Pennington – post a solid 305-6 on the opening day.

Worcestershire seemed to be gaining the upper hand when Clarke’s dismissal by Josh Baker left the home side on 238-6, having slumped from 167-2.

But Lyndon James and Calvin Harrison led Notts’ recovery with the seventh-wicket pair, who will resume this morning, adding 67 so far.

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After the day one blitz by Warwickshire openers Alex Davies and Rob Yates who put on 343 for the first wicket, the question is how long do the Bears want to bat?

They have all the batting points possible. Monday's weather forecast is not great.

Maybe to force the game on, they could declare. But it feels very early to do that.

Davies is on 226 not out and could certainly 250 and then why not 300.

For anyone wondering about Warwickshire's record first-class score v Durham - that was a mammoth 810-4 dec in 1994.

A certain Brian Charles Lara scored 501 of them!

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When Matt Renshaw and Tom Lammonby were unfurling a range of gorgeous boundary shots in the morning and early afternoon, Surrey captain Rory Burns must have been wondering if his call to bowl was the right one.

But never doubt this Surrey side. A spell of 7-20 in the afternoon turned the tide dramatically in their favour as Somerset went from 196-1 to 216-8.

Lewis Gregory's late hitting added a few runs, but Burns and Dom Sibley getting to the close unscathed, it was Surrey's day.

Now they have Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence and the rest waiting in the hutch with the bat on day two.

Someone will have to stand up for the Cider Boys or this match could slip away from them on day two.

Image source, Alex Hoad

Slightly cool and grey at Chelmsford this morning but expecting it to warm up nicely by lunchtime - on and off the field.

Essex have 14 overs remaining this morning to rattle off the 29 runs they require to secure maximum batting bonus points while Kent will need to find three wickets from those same 84 deliveries to ensure a third bowling bonus point.

As we've already seen across the past two rounds, the first couple of hours of the Kent reply looks key, if Essex can pick up some early wickets with the fresh Kookaburra ball then they could take a stranglehold on the match.

If Kent can negotiate them without drama then batting on a flat and docile track should become easier as the day wears on.

Div One:

• Essex 421-6 v Kent
• Hants 305-6 v Lancs
• Notts 305-6 v Worcs
• Surrey 42-0 v Somerset 285
• Warwickshire 490-1 v Durham

Div Two:

• Glamorgan 237 v Derbyshire 46-1
• Gloucs 28-2 v Yorkshire 326
• Leics 326-8 v Sussex
• Northants 311-3 v Middlesex

Image source, Getty Images

Morning!

Day one of this second round of the County Championship season was pretty much dominated by the batters.

No more so than at Edgbaston where Warwickshire racked up 490-1 against a toiling Durham.

How many more can they get today?

Stay with us to find out - we've got nine matches to bring you in total...