Summary

  • Former England captain Alastair Cook makes unbeaten 39 for Essex v Somerset

  • Lancashire all-rounder Jordan Clark scores maiden first-class 100 v Surrey

  • Sam Robson leads way with 84 for Champions Middlesex against Hampshire

Live Reporting

Adam Williams

  1. Former England captain Cook in action for Essex

    Alastair CookRex Features

    Former England captain Alastair Cook is playing in his first match since stepping down as leader of the national team, having recovered from the hip injury that ruled him out of last weeks match against Lancashire.

    There are a number of England players featuring in their first County Championship matches of the season over the Easter weekend, with Jake Ball replacing Stuart Broad, who has been rested, for Nottinghamshire.

    Jake Ball, Steven Finn, Keaton Jennings and Adil Rashid all feature but fast bowler James Anderson is also rested for Lancashire at the Oval.

  2. Toss

    James VinceRex Features

    James Vince saw the coin land on the wrong side earlier at the Ageas Bowl

    Division One:

    Hampshire v Middlesex - Middlesex win toss and will bat

    Surrey v Lancashire - Lancashire win toss and will bat

    Somerset v Essex - Somerset win toss and will bat

    Warwickshire v Yorkshire - No toss, Warwickshire to bat first

    Division Two:

    Durham v Nottinghamshire - No toss, Durham to bat first 

    Derbyshire v Northamptonshire - No toss, Derbyshire to bat first

    Glamorgan v Worcestershire - No toss, Glamorgan to bat fist

    Gloucestershire v Leicestershire - No toss, Gloucstershire to bat first

    Sussex v Kent - Kent win toss and choose to bat

  3. Toss or no toss?

    Team news is in from our nine games and some sides have decided to flip the coin, while others haven't.

    News from them all on the way shortly....

  4. Listen live

    Coverage of all nine matches is just getting started on both BBC local radio and BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra.

    Kevin Howells and the team are live from Chester-le-Street in Durham this weekend for the hosts' Division Two match against Nottinghamshire.

    You can listen live online and also on digital radio between a host of other sporting events today.

    Coming up before the start of play, you can hear an interview with new Durham chairman Sir Ian Botham, talking no doubt about what has been an "eventful" winter for the county.

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  5. Fixture list

    Dawid MalanRex Features

    As mentioned, nine matches in total with all 18 counties in action during the second round of this new season.

    Here's how the fixtures look:

    Division One:

    Hampshire v Middlesex

    Surrey v Lancashire

    Somerset v Essex

    Warwickshire v Yorkshire

    Division Two:

    Durham v Nottinghamshire

    Derbyshire v Northamptonshire

    Glamorgan v Worcestershire

    Gloucestershire v Leicestershire

    Sussex v Kent

  6. Holiday weekend cricket

    ChelmsfordRex Features

    Welcome along to the start of another round of county championship action at the start of the Easter weekend.

    If you're fortunate enough to be starting a four-day weekend, lucky you.

    I on the other hand, along with my colleague Kalika Mehta, will be here throughout the festivities to bring you all the action from nine matches across the two divisions.

    Thanks for joining us, action on the way very shortly....