No contested toss at Taunton for second-placed Somerset.

Good news for our first division games today.

We should get sunny intervals and a light breeze at Nottingham and Southampton plus light cloud and a gentle wind at Edgbaston and Taunton.

Chances of rain at all four venues? Less than 5%.

Some dreadful weather up and down the country yesterday and although it's sunny on the south coast it looks overcast at Edgbaston so the toss will be an important one. But as expected, there is no toss and Essex have elected to bowl first. Can they make some early in-roads?

After the disappointment of England's defeat in the Ashes, Old Trafford reverts back to Championship cricket this week and Derbyshire have elected to have a bat against the Division Two leaders.

Division Two has three promotion places up for grabs this season with the two tiers switching numbers from next year.

Lancashire look in prime position to take one of them with a 29-point lead at the summit.

Behind them though are arguably seven sides who still have a chance to join them at the promotion party.

Only 26 points separate Northants in third to Derbyshire in eighth.

Image source, BBC Sport

As ever, join in the conversation throughout this round of fixtures on social media using #bbccricket

Who are your tips for the County Championship title and who will be going down and coming up before the season is done at the end of this month?

Division One:

Ageas Bowl: Hampshire v Surrey

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Kent

Taunton: Somerset v Yorkshire

Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Essex

Division Two:

Bristol: Gloucestershire v Sussex

Old Trafford: Lancashire v Derbyshire

Leicester: Leicestershire v Northamptonshire

Lord's: Middlesex v Durham

Worcester: Worcestershire v Glamorgan

We've got all nine matches of this County Championship round covered for you on BBC local radio.

Our commentary teams are ready and waiting up and down the country to bring you the action and you can find your match of choice using the live coverage options at the top of the page - you'll also find them organised into Division One and Division Two fixtures.

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra will also have coverage from Taunton today and on Wednesday of second-placed Somerset against third-placed Yorkshire.

Second place Somerset missed out on their first title by four points in 2016 and we could be in for a classic finale as they meet Essex at Taunton in the final round in two weeks time.

They host third-placed Yorkshire at Taunton this week.

Image source, bbc

At the other end of the table, a combination of results this round could see Nottinghamshire relegated to Division Two.

They host Kent at Trent Bridge.

Remember there's just the one relegation place this season.

Essex have made it through to T20 Finals Day on 21 September and they have the narrow lead as they seek to recapture the Championship title they won two years ago. They are taking an early look at Edgbaston this week against Warwickshire, we'll have news of the toss very shortly as we welcome you to our coverage of the County Championship.

Image source, Rex Features

Hello again, just the two points in it then.