Alistair Marriott: I would certainly be having experience and go back to Adam Lyth. Thought he was always a bit unlucky to get dropped in the first place. I will also state that I would love Chris Woakes to open, a la Shane Watson. I honestly feel he would excel at the top of the order

Ricey: Burns and Woakes to open in Sri Lanka. Solves the problem of how to fit all the all-rounders in and Woakes is good enough to do it. He’d thrive further up the order

Two votes for Chris Woakes. Now that would get people talking!

Ah, Alex Davies spanks Jack Leach for back-to-back fours at the end of his first over.

Not quite the start the spinner was looking for.

You'd probably say it's been an even first hour at Taunton.

Karl Brown was removed by Lewis Gregory, but Alex Davies and Steven Croft are looking relatively comfortable for Lancashire.

Jack Leach comes into the attack for Somerset. Can the spinner provide the breakthrough?

Peter Siddle is steaming in for Essex, but Rory Burns and Dean Elgar are equal to everything the Aussie dishes up.

It's been an encapsulating first hour at Chelmsford.

Spinner Simon Harmer is now coming on for Sam Cook.

Image source, Rex Features

Rory Burns makes batting look so easy at times.

The Surrey opener simply flicks Sam Cook off his hips to the rope.

Another big innings for Burns here could well seal his seat on the plane to Sri Lanka.

22 off nine balls for Jimmy Adams now - another four off Josh Tongue. Boundary-fest at New Road.

Three boundaries in a row for Jimmy Adams off Josh Tongue, clips off the legs, a drive through the covers - and Adams is up to 18 off eight balls.

Blagdon Park CC: Rory Burns and Joe Denly should both be in the squad for the Sri Lanka tour. No iffs or buts

Burns is certainly showing his mental strength this morning - the Surrey opener is up to 20 in tough batting conditions.

So, the only Division One game left without a wicket is at Trent Bridge where Notts have made a watchful start.

Ben Slater and Kraigg Brathwaite have dug in for almost 14 overs under slate grey skies. Gritty stuff.

• Gloucestershire are digging in - they are 6-0 against Middlesex from 8 overs.
• Sussex are off to a rocketing start against Leicestershire: they are 48-0 from nine overs, with Philip Salt and Tom Haines closing in on a half-century partnership.
• Derbyshire are 39-1 at home to Glamorgan, Tom Lace bowled by Timm van der Gugten the only wicket to fall.
• Kent have moved to 30-2 against Northants.
• There's still a rain delay at Warwickshire, where they and Durham will wait on the result of a pitch inspection at 11:30 BST.

Wickets are tumbling now. There's been one at New Road...

Dropped catchpublished at 11:04 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

11:04 BST 4 September 2018

Essex v Surrey 30-0

Shot!

Jamie Porter overpitches and Mark Stoneman drives the paceman for four.

Oh, but now he's dropped next ball. Stoneman smashes a pull towards Nick Browne, but he can't cling on. Tough chance.

Image source, Rex Features

Essex are having little luck out there.

Rory Burns is squared up by Sam Cook and the ball squirts down to the third-man boundary.

The scorecard shows it's a decent start for the Division One leaders, but the bowlers are on top.

Tony Saxby: Joe Denly with James Vince to open would fill me with far more confidence. Denly can bowl his spin in Sri Lanka as a bonus!

• Kent have lost two very early wickets against Northants: Zak Crawley was caught off the bowling of Brett Hutton for six, and sean Dickson was trapped lbw by Ben Sanderson for seven. Kent are 15-2 from four overs.
• Sussex have started well against Leicestershire, Philip Salt and Tom Haines working Sussex up to 28-0.
• Similarly, Derbyshire are 24-0 against Glamorgan.
• They've been off for bad light already at Bristol, but they're back on again - Gloucestershire are 4-0 against Middlesex
• Nothing to report from Warwickshire, where they and Durham are yet to get going due to the rain.

A quick look at the table shows just how dominant Surrey have been.

Unbeaten this season, seven wins in a row, but they still can't shake off Somerset.

Mark Stoneman and Rory Burns are under the cosh at Chelmsford, but still no breakthrough for the Essex seamers.

The bowlers are well and truly on top so far, but still no wickets in Division One. Runs are hard to come by.

Surely that will change under gloomy September skies?