Some news that you might not have spotted yet this morning is that the County Championship is to remain a two-division structure of 14 matches per team after a vote rejected proposed changes.

Counties had been asked to choose between the status quo and a new system of a 12-team top flight, six in the bottom tier, with each team playing 13 matches.

A majority of 12 counties were required to vote for change in order to push through the reform, a figure that was not met.

The result of the vote means the County Championship retains its current structure of 10 teams in Division One and eight in Division Two, with two teams promoted and relegated between each.

A vote for reform would have effectively ended the relegation battle, whereas now Sussex, Essex, Yorkshire, Hampshire and Durham must battle to avoid joining Worcestershire in dropping to Division Two. Leicestershire and Glamorgan have already sealed promotion.

The right decision? Let us know your thoughts.

Given the team's unassailable lead at the top of the table, might Leicestershire take their collective foot off the gas?

Not a bit of it!

Sol Budinger takes 12 runs off George Scrimshaw's second over.

The onslaught includes six hooked over fine leg to bring up a 50 partnership with Rishi Patel in 51 balls - plus a four hammered through mid wicket on the front foot.

The opener now has 43 off just 25 balls.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Durham chose to bat in the Leeds sunshine, on what is said to be a flat track. But both openers fell in the first five overs, with Finlay Bean helping himself to two catches at third slip.

Matt Milnes thought he had Alex Lees with his 10th ball of the day, when the batsman left the delivery and it angled back in and over off stump.

Next ball he did get him though, as Lees edged to Bean and then punched his bat in anger with himself.

And in the next over Gay departed, as he edged Jack White to the slips. Certainly not the start Durham were looking for as they try to avoid relegation back to division two.

The ball is nibbling around a bit and the bowlers have been bowling tight lines. It will be interesting to see how this one develops from here.

Daniel Lategan looks a player and a half.

While all else if crumbling around him he has raced to 30 from 24 balls including six beautifully struck fours.

The best of them was his last, a perfectly balanced punched drive off Jaydev Unadkat in the last over.

Did we mention this is the first time Josh Thomas has opened the batting in first class cricket?

He's played a decent hand so far, safely compiling 24 off 27 balls.

Tom Lammonby is still looking for his first run and is beating going forward to block Jamie Porter but survives the LBW shout.

The fifth ball of the over is flicked to square leg for two.

Two more driven into the on side.

What you might term a watchful start from Surrey who have moved in stately fashion through the first eight overs.

Both Rory Burns and fellow opener Dom Sibley have one boundary apiece albeit with both coming in the last two overs.

Having assessed the pitch they may be ready to open up a bit now.

Will Young carefully drops the ball from Brett Hutton into the off side for one.

Brett Hutton strikes Rob Yates on the pad but the LBW shout is turned down.

It might have been a bit high.

Yates is forward to drive the fourth ball but gets a leading edge down the pitch for no run and no catching chance.

Northants are being put to the sword by Leicestershire here.

Opener Sol Budinger has raced to 30 not out off just 18 balls, taking 14 runs from the third over of Ben Whitehouse.

The bowler is clipped to square leg and smashed through cover for fours and is also swivel-pulled from the crease over square leg for six.

He holds the pose. Immaculate timing.

Image source, Rex Features

Muhammad Abbas is just short of a length, striking Will Young at hip height.

Young gets a run clipped to mid on and Rob Yates edges past third slip for a streaky four.

Adam Lanigan
BBC Sport reporter at Headingley

Image source, Getty Images

It's perhaps apt that sunshine greets us here at Headingley for the opening day of this last round of Championship fixtures.

On Tuesday, Yorkshire Cricket lost one of its most treasured sons in legendary former player and umpire Dickie Bird, at the age of 92.

Players and fans gathered together to give him a warm round of applause before play to mark his passing, with both sides wearing black armbands in his honour.

There were not many like Dickie - I once went to a recording of Question of Sport when he was one of the panellists.

Not sure there are too many umpires and referees who would get that treatment and love now.

And given that both of Durham's openers have fallen in the first five overs, he must be looking down on his old county.

Jamie Porter is as always getting a bit of movement out of the Chelmsford surface, inducing the play and miss from Josh Thomas.

Plenty to keep the four slips interested.

The last ball of the over is driven loosely and just past a diving cover for a single.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

If you're realistic, Surrey need a miracle now to win the Championship.

All Surrey can do here is put in a performance, win this game and see where they are.

Rob Yates is half forward to Mo Abbas, blocking the veteran bowler into the off side.

The fourth ball is a tad full and steered with a thick edge wide of the slip cordon for four.

Richard Wilford
BBC Radio WM commentator

It ducked in and looked like a very strong shout.

Michael Gough had a moment to think, but that's the exact start Nottinghamshire were hoping for.