County Championship opening day as it happened

Summary

Mark Stoneman makes 165 on Surrey debut
New Yorkshire captain Gary Ballance out for 120
Yorkshire's Ben Coad takes 5-18 to leave Hants 58-5
Northants skittle Glamorgan for 101
Stuart Broad takes 3-45 for Notts
Lancs' Haseeb Hameed out for 47

Live Reporting

Gary Smee

Expectant crowdspublished at 10:23 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
Essex v Lancashire (11:00 BST)
They're queuing around the corner to get in at a sunny Chelmsford...
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Weather forecastpublished at 10:20 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
The sun is shining in the capital and it should stay dry over the next four days.
And looking out of my window in Birmingham - the sun is just about peeping out.
The rain usually starts in May and stops at the end of August, so we'll be okay until then!
All set at the Kia Ovalpublished at 10:18 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
Surrey v Warwickshire (11:00 BST)
Mark Church
BBC London 94.9 commentator
Image source, Getty Images
The opening day of the season and the weather gods could not have been kinder. The sun is shining, there is blue sky and the Surrey and Warwickshire players are warming up before the toss of the coin (if there is one).
There is always something special about the start of the Championship..today is no different.
Postpublished at 10:15 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
Essex v Lancashire (11:00 BST)
Lancashire and England bowler James Anderson is ready and waiting in Chelmsford.
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Postpublished at 10:12 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
Division Two fixtures
While the focus will be on the games in Division One, I'll also bring you updates on any significant goings-on in Division Two.
There are three fixtures to get things started...
- Kent v Gloucestershire
- Leicestershire v Nottinghamshire
- Northants v Glamorgan
Postpublished at 10:08
Division One fixtures
Reigning champs Middlesex are not in action until next week, when they travel to Hampshire, but we've got half-a-dozen crackers to get the domestic season underway.
Division One new boys Essex host Lancashire - more from Chelmsford shortly where England Test skipper Alastair Cook plays.
Surrey play Warwickshire, minus England all-rounder Chris Woakes who is at the IPL.
2014 and 2015 champions Yorkshire under new captain Gary Ballance face Hampshire at Headingley.
Postpublished at 10:05 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
Yep, 2017 certainly has a lot to live up to, and it starts today with six matches.
I'll keep you across all the key talking points, wickets and social media debate as the day unfolds.
There is also live ball-by-ball radio commentary from every game which you can access at the top of this page.
Here's what's coming up...
Postpublished at 10:03 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
But it was never going to be a draw at Lord's. The captains conferred, some pies thrown up, and Yorkshire were set 240 to win in 40 overs.
Wickets tumbled, runs flowed. Then it ended in the most dramatic fashion.
Paceman Toby Roland-Jones steamed in and took a hat-trick to finish things.
Image source, Rex Features
Middlesex were county champions for the first time in 23 years.
Image source, Rex Features
Postpublished at 10:02 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
In Taunton, Somerset players watched events unfold in the capital on television screens.
They needed a draw for their first-ever County Championship trophy...
Image source, Rex Features
Postpublished at 10:01 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
Cast your mind back 196 days - the final afternoon of the 2016 County Championship season - three sides still in with a chance of claiming the title.
MIddlesex and Yorkshire were facing off at Lord's, both needed wins...
Image source, Rex Features
Postpublished at 10:00 British Summer Time 7 April 2017
How do you top this then?...
Image source, Rex Features