Summary

  • Follow nine matches from round seven of the County Championship season

  • Div One: Essex v Warwickshire, Lancs v Durham, Notts v Hants, Somerset v Kent and Surrey v Worcs

  • England Test captain Ben Stokes takes two wickets for Durham

  • Leaders Surrey bowled out for 213 before reducing Worcs to 112-7

  • Div Two: Derbyshire v Northants, Glamorgan v Middlesex, Leics v Gloucs and Sussex v Yorkshire

  • Joe Root makes 67 for Yorkshire

  • Find all commentaries in the 'watch & listen' tab

  • Get involved #bbccricket

  1. Div Two tablepublished at 10:56 17 May

    Sussex lead the way, but only 11 points separate second from seventh in a tight early-season table...

    Div Two tableImage source, .
  2. Div One tablepublished at 10:54 17 May

    It's a familiar picture at the top of the table, with Surrey leading the way...

    Division One tableImage source, .
  3. Fixtures & toss newspublished at 10:52 17 May

    All games start at 11:00 BST

    Seven teams have elected to field first with only Warwickshire and Northants deciding to have a bat...

    Div One

    • Essex v Warwickshire - Bears chose to bat
    • Lancashire v Durham - Durham chose to bowl
    • Notts v Hampshire - Hants chose to bowl
    • Somerset v Kent - Kent chose to bowl
    • Surrey v Worcestershire - Pears chose to bowl

    Div Two

    • Derbyshire v Northants - Northants chose to bat
    • Glamorgan v Middlesex - Middlesex chose to bowl
    • Leicestershire v Gloucestershire - Leics chose to bowl
    • Sussex v Yorkshire - Yorkshire chose to bowl
  4. Players to watch out forpublished at 10:51 17 May

    Jack Leach warming up for SomersetImage source, Getty Images

    Alongside Ben Stokes, there are plenty more players we'll be keeping a close eye on.

    England spinner Jack Leach is playing his first game of the season for Somerset following surgery.

    It's the 32-year-old's first appearance for his county since May 2023.

    Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne returns for Glamorgan in their Division Two match against Middlesex.

    Joe Root will be looking to make it three centuries in a row for Yorkshire when they visit Sussex, but England team-mate Harry Brook is not available for the White Rose as he begins preparations for the T20 World Cup.

  5. Stokes bowling in warm uppublished at 10:48 17 May

    Lancashire v Durham (11:00 BST)

    Sam Drury
    BBC Sport cricket writer at Stanley Park

    Two months on from his last outing, Ben Stokes makes his return to action today.

    The surroundings are slightly different. There aren't too many similarities between Dharamsala and Blackpool.

    It's a rather miserable, grey day in the north west but - thankfully - no rain. If the forecast is to be believed, it will stay dry all day.

    Stokes has been out to warm up with his Durham team-mates and we could get a chance to see him in action pretty soon after the visitors won the toss and elected to bowl.

    Conditions could hardly be better for the seamers.

    Ben Stokes warming up for DurhamImage source, Getty Images
  6. Stokes plays for Durhampublished at 10:46 17 May

    Lancashire v Durham (11:00 BST)

    Ben Stokes warming up for DurhamImage source, Getty Images

    England Test captain Ben Stokes is playing his first County Championship match for two years as Durham travel to Blackpool to take on Lancashire.

    The 32-year-old is not part of England's T20 World Cup squad next month, so will begin his preparations for the Test series against West Indies and Sri Lanka this summer.

    He played three matches for Durham in Division Two in 2022 scoring a memorable 161 off just 88 balls against Worcestershire at New Road.

  7. Postpublished at 10:45 17 May

    TauntonImage source, Rex Features

    Morning!

    After yesterday's washout in many places, thankfully the sun has popped out to welcome in our latest round of County Championship action.

    All 18 teams play and a host of big names are ready to take the field.

    Including this man...