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The crowds will flock back to Southport this morning not only hoping to see Jimmy Anderson in action for Lancashire, but also to see if skipper Keaton Jennings can post a double century.

Jennings hit his fourth century of the season to steer Lancashire to 344-8 at stumps on day one against Nottinghamshire - a total which the skipper believes is already above par.

Once this morning's showers have passed, Jennings will resume on an unbeaten 183 off 258 balls, including 26 fours and four sixes, having held the Lancashire innings together after the visitors had threatened to take charge after lunch.

A third batting bonus point is six runs away while his side have 14 overs if they wish to chase another by reaching 400.

Jennings told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It was a good day. A few went over the rope and went through gaps. Hopefully we can get up to 350 and get that extra point and then see how far we can kick-on.

"I thought the guys batted beautifully all the way down. It’s a ground I enjoy. It has a really nice feel. We’re in a good position in the game. I think we are slightly above par. I am grateful today was my day."

Notts need one more wicket for maximum bowling points after paceman Dillon Pennington, selected by England for the first time alongside Anderson in the England squad announced earlier on Monday, picked up 2-70 from 23 overs across five separate spells.

Anderson-watch will likely begin with a batting cameo before he is thrown the ball later in the day.

Somerset would've been delighted to reduce the Bears to 40-4 in the first hour of play on Sunday after captain Tom Abell won the toss and chose to field.

Three of those scalps fell to Migael Pretorius, who tore through the top order in a spell of 3-12 in six overs.

But this has evolved into a different game on a deceptively green-looking pitch.

The rearguard began in earnest with Will Rhodes (63) and Ed Barnard (92) putting on a stand of 104 for the fifth wicket.

Jack Leach, playing as the sole spinner (with the returning Shoaib Bashir sitting this game out) removed both of them in a Day One return of 2-69.

But a timely unbeaten second century of the season from Michael Burgess (126 not out) has given the Bears hope of a fourth batting point, should he be able to manage the tail this morning.

That may not be a straightforward task, given the gloomy overhead conditions hanging over the Taunton ground this morning, though.

Jamie Smith marked the day of his inclusion in the England squad with a sparkling century on Sunday in this top two Championship clash.

But the Essex bowlers battled through his dazzling stroke play and an injury to the bowling hand of Jamie Porter that saw the bowler leave the field yesterday afternoon to leave the game in the balance.

The pitch has continued to reward persistent seam bowling and a score of around 270 may well be competitive.

Fortunately for Essex, Jamie Porter is reportedly fit to play the rest of this game but Jordan Cox had to have surgery on his appendix last night and his participation in the game may well be in doubt.

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Bad news for Essex as their leading run scorer is likely to miss the rest of the match after a dramatic turn of events.

The club report Jordan Cox was taken to hospital overnight feeling unwell with 'increasing stomach problems'.

What followed was surgery on his appendix. Get well soon, Jordan.

Better news regarding strike bowler Jamie Porter who left the field after getting hit on the hand, but Essex say he is fit to play the rest of the game.

Well, don't expect dazzling sunshine first up.

Cloud cover will hang over most of our county cricket grounds this morning, with a band of rain expected to move west to east this afternoon.

The chances of rain in Sefton and County Durham are very high for most of today, which is bad news for fans attending the Lancashire-Notts fixture and also Durham v Worcestershire at Chester-le-Street.

The Division Two fixtures most vulnerable to rain, particularly from lunchtime onward are at Leicester (Leicestershire v Middlesex) and Chesterfield, where Derbyshire are playing Yorkshire.

Division One

Chester-le-Street: Durham 190 & 33-3 v Worcestershire 112

Southampton: Hampshire 301-3 v Kent

Southport: Lancashire 344-8 v Nottinghamshire

Taunton: Somerset v Warwickshire 373-8

The Oval: Surrey 248-8 v Essex

Division Two

Chesterfield: Derbyshire 76 v Yorkshire 283-5

Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 179 v Glamorgan 133-7

Leicester: Leicestershire 179 & 40-1 v Middlesex 86

Northampton: Northamptonshire 97 v Sussex 143 & 83-2

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Good morning for another eventful day of county championship action.

I can't guarantee action-packed will sum it up, but if today is anything like day one then, buckle up.

It was a day of accumulation in the top tier, with the top-of-the-table clash between Surrey and Essex beautifully poised.

We're still waiting to see James Anderson in action as Lancashire batted out day one, but we saw a half-century and wicket from Ben Stokes as 23 wickets fell at Chester-le-Street.

The wickets really tumbled in Division Two as if the players had made other arrangements for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Two of the matches are already into their third innings, while the two others are deep into the second knock.

So let's have a look where we stand.