Some nice headgear on show in south London!

It's cold and gloomy here, but the players are eager to get started.

Daniel Bell-Drummond will face the first ball from Matt Taylor, who is bowling his first ball in senior cricket for Gloucestershire this season...

Spare a thought for the Essex press officers who look like they've endured a bit of a journey to forget from Chelmsford to the West Country this evening.

Well, let's hope they arrive soon - the players are on their way out at Taunton.

Image source, Getty Images

It's so rare to see Joe Root in a Yorkshire shirt these days, I had to dig out a picture of him in one-day colours from about five years ago!

However, this evening the England star is back in the White Rose squad, along with England teammate Jonny Bairstow, to face their biggest rivals.

Lancashire have one or two superstars themselves - none bigger than Jos Buttler.

We'll have team and toss news from Old Trafford at about 18:00 BST.

The T20 Blast is only a couple of weeks in, but we've already seen blistering centuries, five-wicket hauls and record-breaking team totals.

Worcestershire are sitting pretty at the top of the North Group with three wins out of three - but are one of only two teams never to have been to Finals Day.

So that brings me onto today's Get Involved question - which four teams do you think will make Finals Day?

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Jim Allenby has won the toss for the home side, but the Taunton crowd will have to wait for the World Boss to stride to the middle as he's invited Essex to bat first.

An unchanged side for Ravi Bopara's men from their victory against Glamorgan on Wednesday.

Somerset make just one change from the XI who were beaten by Sussex at Hove earlier this week.

Craig Overton replaces James Hildreth in the middle order.

As ever, our radio commentators are poised at every ground to bring you live ball-by-ball coverage from all eight matches.

To select your chosen BBC local radio commentary click on the live coverage tab at the top of this page.

From 18:15, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra will be broadcasting from Old Trafford for the Roses match with this fine bunch...

Gloucestershire have won the toss at Beckenham and have put Kent in to bat.

The visitors have made one change from the side that beat Middlesex last night, bringing in Matt Taylor for Graeme van Buuren.

The Spitfires, who also played less than 24 hours ago when they lost to Hampshire, are unchanged.

England Test hopeful Daniel Bell-Drummond will hope for another good knock, having top-scored with 64 in that defeat.

Kent: Bell-Drummond, Denly, Northeast (c), Billings (wkt), Stevens, Blake, Cowdrey, Coles, Tredwell, Griffiths, Thomas.

Gloucestershire: Marshall, Klinger (c) Cockbain, Dent, Howell, J Taylor, Roderick (wkt), Smith, Tye, Norwell, M Taylor.

Here's what's coming up over the next few hours...

17:30 - Kent v Gloucestershire - Beckenham

17:30 - Somerset v Essex - Taunton

18:30 - Glamorgan v Hampshire - Cardiff

18:30 - Lancashire v Yorkshire - Old Trafford

18:30 - Northants v Worcestershire - Wantage Road

19:00 - Derbyshire v Leicestershire - Derby

19:00 - Sussex v Surrey - Hove 

19:00 - Birmingham Bears v Durham - Edgbaston

Better conditions for the boss?published at 17:13 British Summer Time 3 June 2016

17:13 BST 3 June 2016

Somerset v Essex (17:30 BST)

Image source, Rex Features

Hopefully the weather at Taunton this evening will be a bit more to Chris Gayle's liking!

After spending two months in red hot conditions at the IPL, Gayle had a bit of a shock at Hove on Wednesday when he stepped into 10 degrees and an ice cold wind.

The 'World Boss' said he needed time to acclimatise after he was bowled for just five on his Somerset return.

Well, the weather is set fair in the west so we could well be in for some Gayle fireworks.

Image source, Rex Features

What could be better? The sun is shining, the weekend is here and some of the world's best cricketers are about to go head-to-head.

This evening, there is got a full programme in store - eight games in total - including the Roses match from Old Trafford.

There's also a certain World/Universe Boss ready to fire.

Welcome to our live text and radio coverage of Friday's T20 Blast.