Adam Whitty
BBC Radio Kent

Sorry, can we start that again?

That, it is probably how the whole of the Kent side are feeling after an awful start to the County Championship season last week.

Bowled out for 64 in their first innings and being beaten by a Gloucestershire side that didn't score more than 110 runs when batting is not ideal, and so a clean slate is needed.

They face a Durham side looking for a new start themselves after their miserable season last year, so an intriguing prospect awaits on this glorious Durham morning.

Kent, with the opportunity to bat first, will hope that their opening pair of Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sean Dickson can live up to their promise and get them off to a flyer.

Right then - sun's out and they're already out in the middle.

Here we go for the next four days' action!

No doubt you will have seen by now that the ECB wants to introduce a new 100-ball format to their eight-team franchise tournament. It's news that has provoked a big response.

In a bid to modernise and attract a new younger generation of fans ESPNCricinfo report, external that the ECB even considered scrapping the LBW law.

With change coming whether we like it or not, we'd like your suggestions for new format ideas and rules - both wacky, sensible and revolutionary. Use the hashtag #bbccricket to get in touch on Twitter.

Image source, Getty Images

Division One

Elsewhere across the country - for Surrey, Amar Virdi is in for Gareth Batty, who has a back spasm and misses out against Hampshire.

Somerset fans will see Aussie Matthew Renshaw for the first time. Worcestershire are unchanged from the side which lost to Hampshire last time out.

Image source, Getty Images

Division Two

Middlesex hand a debut to Australian Hilton Cartwright in their middle-order versus Derbyshire, who have Duanne Olivier and Ravi Rampaul making their debuts.

Aiden Markram makes his Championship bow for Durham, who also have debuts for Gareth Harte and Nathan Rimmington against Kent.

Nottinghamshire's Samit Patel plays his 200th first-class match against Yorkshire, who have former Outlaw Cheteshwar Pujara in their XI.

Leicestershire have Ateeq Javid and Mohammad Abbas making debuts against Sussex.

Image source, Rex Features

So, after twiddling their thumbs in Leeds for four days last week while the Headingley outfield was too damp - champions Essex finally begin the defence of their title under new head coach Anthony McGrath.

It's Lancashire at "Fortress Chelmsford" for Ryan ten Doeschate's men.

They're batting first after the Red Rose took up their option to have a bowl first.

No Alastair Cook for the hosts in this one, although he's just finished up an extensive net and taken a peek at the pitch on his way back to the pavilion.

Here's how the two sides line-up:

Essex: Nick Browne, Varun Chopra, Tom Westley, Dan Lawrence, Ravi Bopara, Ryan ten Doeschate (c), James Foster (wk), Simon Harmer, Peter Siddle, Jamie Porter, Paul Walter.

Lancashire: Keaton Jennings, Haseeb Hameed, Alex Davies (Wwk), Liam Livingstone (c), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dane Vilas, Matthew Parkinson, Jordan Clark, Joe Mennie, Tom Bailey, Graham Onions.

Image source, Rex Features

As ever, BBC local radio is your place to go for ball-by-ball commentary of every County Championship fixture.

Commentaries of all nine fixtures across the next four days are available for you to listen to on this page both on the BBC Sport website and while you're on the move and out and about on the BBC Sport App on your mobile and tablet.

On top of that, BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra will also carry coverage of a fixture each round and this week, it's off to Chelmsford and the home of the defending Champions as Essex bid to get their season started at the second attempt against a Lancashire side no doubt reeling from their chastening home defeat by Nottinghamshire last week.

Kevin Howells joins the commentary teams from both BBC Essex and BBC Radio Lancashire and BBC Radio Manchester for that one.

You can also tune in via DAB digital radio.

Weather watchpublished at 10:48 British Summer Time 20 April 2018

10:48 BST 20 April 2018

I've just come back into the office after a timely two days' off, which thankfully coincided with two stunning days' weather.

The bad news is, I'm back behind a desk for the next four days.

But the good news for all you lucky people is that Chris Fawkes from the BBC Weather Centre is bringing us more sunshine and strong temperatures to get us going today.

See his video forecast below...

Image source, Rex Features

Easy morning so far for Essex skipper Ryan ten Doeschate. He didn't even need to reach in his pocket for his coin as Lancashire are happy to have a bowl first in the Chelmsford sunshine.

As well as the news of that "non-toss" here's the full fixture list for you with news from the middle....

Division One:

Chelmsford: Essex v Lancashire - Uncontested toss, Essex will bat first

Taunton: Somerset v Worcestershire - Uncontested toss, Somerset will bat first

The Oval: Surrey v Hampshire - Surrey won the toss and will bat first

Emerald Headingley: Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire - Uncontested toss, Notts will bowl first

Division Two:

Derby: Derbyshire v Middlesex - Uncontested toss, Middlesex will bowl first

Emirates Chester-le-Street: Durham v Kent - Uncontested toss, Durham will bat first

Bristol: Gloucestershire v Glamorgan - Uncontested toss, Gloucestershire will bat first

Leicester: Leicestershire v Sussex - Sussex won the toss and will bat first

Northampton: Northamptonshire v Warwickshire - Northants won the toss and will bat first

Image source, getty

Here we are back again for the second installment of the 2018 County Championship season.

After last week's six-game, wicket-filled, slightly weather-affected opening round - we kick-off this morning with a full nine-match, sun-kissed, and hopefully run-drenched set of fixtures where some of those counties who had to sit back and watch last week get the chance to start their season for real.

That even includes two sides who thought they were going to start last week.

And we promise the action will last longer than 100 balls!