Image source, Rex Features

After three rounds of matches, you'd have got long odds on title-holders Surrey being winless and perhaps even longer ones on Sussex mixing it at the top of the Division One table.

But that's what we've got and Sussex's stirring return to the top flight after a frustrating decade or so away has mighty impressive. Led by the greedy blades of Tom Haines and Daniel Hughes, no one has more than Sussex's five centuries so far.

After feeling their way back into Division One with a well-earned draw at Warwickshire, Sussex hammered Somerset for their first win back in the big time.

They the had the better of their draw with the champions and go to co-leaders Nottinghamshire with enough spring in their step to jump the River Trent.

They may well need it against Notts who've made a strong start and, like their visitors, are unbeaten.

Their all-department game was in fine shape in the last round - particularly their seam attack with the division's leading wicket-taker Fergus O'Neill picking up career-best figures - and only the weather denied them a chance to push for a deserved victory over Warwickshire.

These two have identical records after three games - bodes well for a belter.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

They are paying tribute to legendary journalist John Curtis today. "Mr Worcestershire" passed away a few weeks ago and is being remembered with a minute's silence at New Road.

His seat in the press box has his Worcestershire bodywarmer on it and a spectator has also brought a bunch of flowers and placed them on his desk. His partner Judy is also here.

"JC" will be a big miss. He was a larger than life character.

Meanwhile it's all change for Durham. Emilio Gay and Matty Potts miss this one. We are not sure what is wrong with Gay, but Potts is about to link up with England in Southampton. Brendan Doggett turned his ankle on Monday morning and also misses this one.

Durham have signed South African all-rounder Codi Yusuf and he comes into the side. Jack Blatherwick has joined on loan from Lancashire and Jake Ball from Somerset. They all play.

Worcestershire have signed New Zealand Test batsman Henry Nicholls, who played briefly for Durham seconds in 2011 after joining Blaydon in the North East Premier League.

It's the first game here this year, after another winter of floods, so it's anyone's guess as to how the new square will play.

Image source, Getty Images

A first visit of 2025 to New Road awaits us this morning, and with it, a host of new faces.

Worcestershire are bottom of the pile after following up a battling draw against Somerset with a walloping at Yorkshire and then a narrow defeat at Essex last week.

The Pears will hand Kiwi left-hander Henry Nicholls a debut today after the 33-year-old signed a deal until the end of June to join compatriot Jacob Duffy in their overseas ranks.

Durham have also lost two of their opening three games, going down at Notts before a nail-biting home defeat to Warwickshire and then being thwarted by Yorkshire in a draw at the Riverside last time out.

They are also set for a new look today, having signed three bowlers this week in a bid to ease an early season injury crisis among their attack.

South African bowler Codi Yusuf is joining for their next six Championship games and the T20 Blast group stages while England bowler Jake Ball and Jack Blatherwick have signed 14-day loan deals from Somerset and Lancashire respectively to play in the next two Championship games.

Durham currently have seven bowlers out injured and unavailable, headed by England fast bowler Brydon Carse while South Africa batter David Bedingham suffering a fractured toe against Warwickshire meaning Yusuf can play as a second overseas player alongside Australian Brendan Doggett.

Image source, Rex Features

Leaders Leicestershire will be hoping to take advantage of second-placed Kent not being involved in a slimmed-down programme in Division Two, as they try to extend their cushion at the top over next four days at Bristol.

Like a few in the last round, the Foxes were left cursing the bad weather as their hopes of an excellent win at Old Trafford against Lancashire were washed away.

New skipper Peter Handscombe has been in great form with the bat and has seen his side post 400 or more in every first innings so far and the return of fit-again Rishi Patel will only swell that confidence.

The bowling ranks also get a huge lift with the return of England seamer Josh Hull - which is just as well given that their two leading wicket-takers - Ben Mike and Tom Scriven - are both injured.

After losing by nine wickets to Derbyshire first up, Gloucestershire have racked up the runs but haven't been able to polish teams off as strong positions against Glamorgan and Kent weren't converted.

In the only other game, Derbyshire and Middlesex will be hoping to take advantage of any Leicestershire slips.

The two sides meet at the County Ground as the division's leading wicket-taker - Derbyshire Luis Reece - tries to get the better of leading run-maker - Max Holden - in one of the sub-plots.

Only Holden and Marcus Harris have scored more than Derbyshire's most durable of evergreens Wayne Madsen so far, while the stunning early-season form of Tasmanian Caleb Jewell (pictured) - with five half-centuries in his six innings - has given the home side some real momentum at the top of the order.

Middlesex defied the weather to see off Glamorgan and put a W in the column after a draw and defeat in their opening two games.

Former England opener Sam Robson is still away on paternity leave as the visitors named an unchanged squad.

Image source, Getty Images

It has been quite a turnaround for our first division counties since last summer.

Surrey have won the Championship three seasons in a row and they now face Somerset at the Oval in an unfamiliar seventh place with three draws in three.

The latest draw was in a high-scoring game against Sussex at Hove where their hopes of a big first innings lead were dashed by losing their last seven wickets for 100 runs, four to the left arm spin of James Coles.

Somerset finished third last year and are currently one spot below Surrey in eighth after escaping with a rain-affected draw against Hampshire at Southampton.

Their batting will be a concern. Since Somerset's mammoth 670-7 in the season opener against the Pears, they have been routed for 184 v Hampshire and 201 v Sussex the week before.

The top of the table clash will be at Trent Bridge where division leaders Notts (eighth last year) face newly-promoted Sussex, who are in second place.

Notts had the better of their rain-affected game against the Bears at Edgbaston last week. They bowled their midlands rivals out for a first innings 93 and responded with 367 with Notts skipper Haseeb Hameed carrying his bat for 138 not out.

But poor weather restricted play on days three and four to just 45.2 overs and Notts ran out of time to force a result.

Sussex are riding high in the top flight, having followed up their first Division One win since promotion (in their second match against Somerset) with a worthy draw against defending champions Surrey at home.

Sussex opener Tom Haines (pictured) is in supreme form. He made 174 and 69 not out v Surrey and now has 449 runs at 89.8 so far in 2025.

The basement battle sees ninth-placed Durham face 10th-placed Worcestershire at New Road.

Durham were held to a draw last week by Yorkshire at the Riverside after earning a first innings lead of 120.

Adam Lyth and Tykes captain Jonny Bairstow both scored second-innings half centuries and Durham were further thwarted by injuries to bowlers Paul Coughlin and Brendan Doggett on day four.

Worcestershire are still looking for their first win of the season.

They fell just 28 runs short of a target of 294 v Essex at Chelmsford, despite a thrilling knock of 88 by Ethan Brookes batting at eight and striking seven sixes.

The coin has landed in favour of host captain Rory Burns and he's decided to field first.

Two changes for the Surrey XI that played v Sussex last week.

Batter Jamie Smith and seam bowler James Taylor come in for Ollie Sykes and Matt Fisher.

Lewis Gregory returns in place of left arm seam bowler Alfie Ogborne to resume captaincy duties after keeper James Rew captained last time v Hampshire.

We have alternated between very little weather interruption and a lot of weather interruption to the cricket programme across the past couple of rounds, and if that pattern continues then we should be set fair for four days of dry cricket across our five matches this time around.

The forecast backs that up too, with a bit of cloud around on Friday and Saturday but long, warm, sunny spells on Sunday and Monday.

You can check the forecast from our colleagues at BBC Weather here.

Today

Variable amounts of cloud and sunny spells. Spots of rain in west Wales and the far south-west of England later on.

Saturday

Tomorrow morning, spells of rain will persist across western England, Wales and Scotland. Sunny spells in the east. Drier later on with cloud breaking up, allowing for more widespread sunny spells.

Outlook for Sunday and Monday

Sunday will see areas of cloud and some showers in the far north, but drier and sunnier towards the south. Warm in the south-east. Monday will see cloud and spells of rain linger in Scotland, but elsewhere will remain sunny and dry.

Fewer games in this fourth round of the County Championship but no less intrigue with the top two, and the bottom four all in action.

Division One

Notts v Sussex

Surrey v Somerset

Worcestershire v Durham

Three of the top-four in the fledgling standings in the second tier are also in action this week.

Division Two

Derbyshire v Middlesex

Gloucestershire v Leicestershire

Image source, Rex Features

Good morning and welcome to the fourth round of the 2025 County Championship.

We have a slightly truncated programme this week, with three games in Division One and two in the second tier, but they are all tasty-looking ones with plenty at stake as the early season standings begin to take shape.

Notts and Sussex are locked together at the top of the pile and lock horns at Trent Bridge while triple defending champions Surrey are winless in their three matches thus far and will try to get off the mark at home against Somerset, one place below them in 8th.

Second-bottom Durham will head to early basement-boys Worcestershire, playing their first game of the season at New Road, while three of the early pace-setters in Division Two are also in action.

Grab yourself a hot beverage and a snack and let us bring you up to speed before the pavilion bells sound in 15 minutes or so...