Westley finds form for Essexpublished at 13:57 British Summer Time 18 April 2016

13:57 BST 18 April 2016

Essex 106-3 v Sussex 360

Image source, Getty Images

And there's another fifty - this time from Essex batsman Tom Westley. Bumped down to number three to accommodate England skipper Alastair Cook, who went earlier for a single, his half-ton arrives with a boundary off teenager George Garton.

Horton holds Foxes togetherpublished at 13:55 British Summer Time 18 April 2016

13:55 BST 18 April 2016

Leicestershire 113-3 v Glamorgan 348

Former Lancashire opener marks his Leicestershire debut with a well-played half-century, which he reaches off 108 balls with a boundary off David Lloyd. To celebrate he adds two more for good measure in the same over.

CENTURY FOR LIAM PLUNKETTpublished at 13:52 British Summer Time 18 April 2016

13:52 BST 18 April 2016

Yorkshire 522-6 v Hampshire

Liam Plunkett becomes the third Yorkshire player to score a century in their opening Championship game of the season. He reaches three figures off only 82 balls with a single off Will Smith. It's the third first-class ton of the England and former Durham's fast bowler's career - but the first for the White Rose.

With Chris Wood and Liam Dawson injured, Tom Alsop has been pressed into service - the ninth bowler used by Hampshire during the innings. Soon be time for Adam Wheater to take the pads off.

I think that's what is known as 'being provocative'...

Three more series for Hales seems a lot - I suspect he hasn't got that long to prove himself..PS Carl backs Gary Ballance to fill the number five slot left by James Taylor's premature retirement.

BBC Sussex's Adrian Harms at Hove:

"A good morning for Sussex who, despite losing their last two wickets for the addition of just five runs, reduced Essex to 84-3 at lunch

"Whether the new ECB directive on helmets affected Alastair Cook we don't know, but Steve Magoffin accounted for the England skipper for just a single, and Essex have struggled against tight Sussex bowling, the exception being Tom Westley who is 42 not out."

BBC Radio Wales Sport's Nick Webb at Cardiff:

"Leicestershire's batsmen made a solid start to the morning session, only for Glamorgan to grab three wickets in quick succession.

"Paul Horton batted through the morning for 46 in his first Championship match for the Foxes, but Angus Robson fell to Michael Hogan for 25, Neil Dexter was caught off David Lloyd for 4, and skipper Mark Cosgrove fell to Lloyd without scoring in the same over."

BBC Radio Derby's Dave Fletcher at Bristol:

"It was Gloucestershire’s morning as Derbyshire’s batsmen continued to crawl along. Just 77 runs were added in the morning session, with the visitors reaching 319-6 at lunch.

"It might have been worse for Derbyshire who lost the three wickets to fall for just 34 runs in the opening hour, David Payne claiming two of them. 

"Wayne Madsen is the visitors’ big hope of batting at length in the afternoon. He reached 87 not out (off 245 balls) by the interval."

Bell should return against Sri Lanka, according to Joshua - do you agree?

Here are the scores around the grounds:

Division One:

Lancashire 108-3 v Nottinghamshire 242

Middlesex 444-9 v Warwickshire (still in play)

Yorkshire 506-6 v Hampshire

Division Two:

Leicestershire 99-3 v Glamorgan 348

Derbyshire 319-6 v Gloucestershire

Essex 84-3 v Sussex 360

BBC Radio Solent's Kevan James at Headingley:

"A morning to forget for Hampshire - 236 runs were scored by Yorkshire in that two-hour session as Bairstow and Plunkett ran riot.

"The misery didn't end there for Hants. Chris Wood, who has a history of knee problems, limped off mid-over, and Liam Dawson didn't bowl due to a stomach injury, although he's expected to bat."

Just cheese and cucumber sandwiches for me....(please imagine a smiley with the corners of its mouth turned down)

After the winter tour to South Africa and James Taylor's enforced retirement, there may be places up for grabs in the England batting order for the forthcoming series against Sri Lanka. Wonder how Alex Hales and Nick Compton feel after the big scores by Adam Lyth and Sam Robson.

Both have been tried and discarded by the selectors in the past, but with few other 'cabs on the rank' to choose from, their early-season form is timely to say the least. Robson looked back to his serene best in a superb 231 for Middlesex against Warwickshire, while Yorkshire's Lyth battled his way through the morning session in bowler-friendly conditions on day one to hit 111 against Hampshire.

So who do you think should be in England's top six for the first Test? Is there an untried top-order batsman you think deserves a chance? Get in touch and let us know.  

BBC WM's Richard Wilford at Lord's:

"Three wickets in three overs from Warwickshire's Jeetan Patel has seen lunch at Lord's delayed as Middlesex are nine wickets down in their first innings.

"Robson (231), Harris (12) and Murtagh (1) all perished in quick succession, stretching the day's opening session into a third hour."

There's been a lot of debate about Alastair Cook's choice of helmet - but what about his sunglasses? I shall look up the England and Wales Look-Cool-In-The-Sun Board's regulations... 

Image source, Rex Features

JONNY BAIRSTOW HITS DOUBLE CENTURYpublished at 12:57 British Summer Time 18 April 2016

12:57 BST 18 April 2016

Yorkshire 499-6 v Hampshire

If Jos Buttler expects to regain the wicketkeeper/batsman place in the England team for the forthcoming Sri Lanka series, he may have to think again. Jonny Bairstow reaches his double ton with two runs off Will Smith's off-spin. It's taken him just 233 balls and he's collected two sixes and 27 fours.

At the other end, Liam Plunkett continues his all-out assault on the Hants attack - 90 not out off 64 balls.