Kusal Mendis joins his namesake Perera at the crease, straight away cracking a cut that Eoin Morgan does well to stop at point. When Willey gets one to go in a straight line, Mendis plays down Bakerloo. Ooohs and aaahs. Crowd right into this. Action-packed start.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"He'll be so annoyed with himself. It was the same ball he hit over cover for four. He didn't back himself this time. He timed the pants off that one and it's gone straight to the fielder."

Woakes drags his length back, but too much, allowing Perera to bullet a hook shot to the square leg fence. Don't take your eyes off this fella, he's got the crouching stance of Sanath Jayasuriya and he is keen on butchering bowlers like the great man too. 

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"The ground looks an absolute picture. There was a time when 300 was impossible, 400 was impossible, now it's twice a week."

When Woakes bowls to this pair of left-handers, the boundary square and behind on the off side is very small. Notts have made 400 a couple of times on this ground this season and that is one reason why. Perera, a stand-and-deliver man, twice belts through the off side for back-to-back boundaries.

David Willey with the other new ball, immediately finding a beautiful arc past the grope of the upright Gunathilaka. Oil-painting white clouds follow Willey to the crease, while the deck is straw-coloured - no obvious signs of grass. Touch leggy from Willey, Perera working a couple.

Both teams in blue, both royal (are there any other shades of blue than sky, royal and baby?). Two left-handers at the crease for the Lankans, Woakes starting a touch too straight. Gunathilaka, a new face to me, works through mid-wicket for a scampered three. We get through all of five deliveries before Woakes decides he needs some sawdust on the front line.

Alex Crossley: Yorks - County Champions two years running but very poor in limited overs for years Only 2 players in test XI yet 5 in ODI XI?

Rubin Caaarter: Good to see the England selectors giving the other counties a chance by picking 5 Yorkshire players this aft.

Image source, Reuters

Right then, the players are in the middle, Jerusalem is still belting out across TB. Kusal Perera and Danushka Gunathilaka are at the crease and Chris Woakes has the ball. Two slips in the sunshine.

James Taylor
Ex-England batsman James Taylor on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"They took the covers off yesterday, and typical for the groundsmen, they had a downpour with the covers off! There was a little more rain that got under than they would have liked. So there is a bit of moisture, and it will be perfect for England's bowlers."

BBC Weather's Susan Powell: "We could see a little bit more cloud in afternoon but nothing significant. It will be largely dry - a perfect afternoon to be at Trent Bridge."

Richie Macca: Cue the inevitable "will Morgan get some runs?" debate. Here are my two cents: No, probably not. 15 and out.  

Francis Edwards: Without runs for a long time now and was poor and dropped in the IPL, new captain needed to take this team to the next level.  

The sun is just poking through in Nottingham, spectators with enough food to last them for a week just filing into the ground. Tricky business, packing for a day at the cricket. All weather eventualities must be considered, and a buffet for eight must be constructed.

Image source, Getty Images

New England captain Heather Knight has done the business for the women's side against Pakistan at Grace Road. She has picked up 5-26 to help dismiss the tourists for 165, in 45.4 overs.

You can listen to England's chase in that match online by clicking here.

And if you click here,, external you can listen to the coverage from outside the UK.

Once again, a picture of a dog gets into the live text. We just can't get enough.

Image source, Getty Images

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Not available to listeners in the UK, Sri Lanka, India, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Stephen Scott

John, that's some excellent factage. Leads my to wonder if that's ever happened before. If you possess such knowledge, then do let me know.