50 for Ollie Robinsonpublished at 12:49 British Summer Time 1 August 2020

12:49 BST 1 August 2020

Essex v Kent 103-3

So BBC Radio Kent's Matt Cole certainly knows how to make a tip it seems.

His "one to watch" Ollie Robinson has brought up an impressive half-century as Kent continue their recovery against Essex.

His fifth four through the covers off the back foot from Jamie Porter's delivery brings it up off 68 balls.

He's also struck an impressive six too in this fourth-wicket partnership now worth 80 with Heino Kuhn (25 not out).

Jonathan Doidge
BBC Radio Leeds, York, Sheffield, Humberside and Tees

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Although he seems to have been around for quite some time, Matthew Fisher has played just 13 first-class matches in a total of five seasons, while making almost 60 appearances across both white ball formats.

Fisher’s bowling action is a thing of beauty, worthy of any coaching video on the subject, and if he can steer clear of some unfortunate injuries that have stymied recent progress, then along with his useful batting contributions in the lower-middle order, this shortened season could really be the year when he kicks on to greater heights.

50 for Chris Nashpublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 1 August 2020

12:38 BST 1 August 2020

Nottinghamshire 92-0 v Derbyshire

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We have our first half-century of the county season!

Chris Nash pulls a shot into the leg-side for three runs, taking him to 52 not out - including a six - from 69 balls.

Notts are 92-0 at Trent Bridge - going along at more than four an over - with Hasseb Hameed still there on 34.

Richard Wilford
BBC WM 95.6

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Rob Yates is set to fill the gap left by England opener Dominic Sibley at the top of Warwickshire's batting order, and he will look to build on an encouraging debut season.The 20-year-old from Solihull's main virtues when thrown in at the deep end in 2019 were his concentration and unflappability stepping into the number three berth left vacant by the retirement of Jonathan Trott and the season-long injury to Ian Bell.Left-handed Yates' ability to bat time was eventually rewarded by a maiden first-class century against a title-chasing Somerset at Edgbaston, that after narrowly missing out with 91 in the game with Hampshire at Southampton.

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Warwickshire have started well with the ball at Edgbaston and have the luxury of bringing an England international into their attack.

With Oliver Hannon-Dalby and Olly Stone having got rid of the Northants openers, Ryan Sidebottom (not the former England one but his namesake!) and Tim Bresnan - making his Bears debut - are now having spells.

Northants are 44-2, with Rob Keogh not out on 21.

Sadly for Eddie Byrom, he is one of two Somerset wickets to have fallen so far at Taunton after the hosts won the toss and elected to bat first.

He was bowled by Graham Wagg for 22 and then Tom Abell was also bowled by Marchant de Lange shortly after for just three for last year's County Championship runners-up.

Stumps cartwheeling everywhere!

Anthony Gibson
BBC Somerset

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With Tom Banton and Lewis Gregory away on England duty and no overseas batsman, this truncated season offers the ideal opportunity for the coming generation of Somerset batsmen to show what they can do.

Tom Lammonby, Ben Green and Lewis Goldsworthy are all in the mix, but the young batsman I pick to make a real mark is 23-year-old Eddie Byrom.

He’s had his chances in red ball cricket, without breaking through, held back maybe by over-caution.

His heroics in last season’s T20 Blast and a productive winter in Australia should have given him the confidence to change all that, and 70 in 100 balls in the friendly against Gloucestershire last week suggests he’s on the right track.

And Lancashire's Josh Bohannon is currently unbeaten on 22 having come in at number three for Lancashire.

The Red Rose have now lost both openers Keaton Jennings and Alex Davies after winning the toss and deciding to bat at the neutral venue of New Road, Worcester.

Scott Read
BBC Radio Lancashire and BBC Radio Manchester

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Sharing a century partnership in 2018 with captain Dane Vilas as Lancashire secured what seemed like a vital win over relegation rivals Worcestershire was Josh Bohannon’s standout moment of that season, his first for Lancashire.

But it was his debut performance the game before that first gave us a glimpse of this skillful and gusty batsman.

His first-class debut came under floodlights, facing a pink ball, being bowled by Morne Morkel at The Oval around 20:00 BST at night.

He survived that, and went onto to make fifty the following day.

An impressive start to his career saw him batting at three by the end of last season.

Dave Bracegirdle
BBC Radio Nottingham at Trent Bridge

Derbyshire's hopes of making early inroads hit the buffers after Chris Nashand Haseeb Hameed negotiated their way through the first hour.

Put in, the hosts' openers have accelerated smoothly and not given asmattering of a chance.

Hameed, on debut, has played the anchor role, with Nash repeatedly driving to the boundary ropes.

What started as a bit of drizzle turned into a full-on downpour at Chester-le-Street, so they've taken an early lunch.

Strangely enough there are now blue skies, so hopefully they'll get a clear run after some grub.

Durham won the toss against Yorkshire and are 12-0 after 8.3 overs.

First bit of spin of the season for Essex as they bring on Simon Harmer to try and break this fourth-wicket partnership by Kent.

Ollie Robinson (30 not out) doesn't take long to have a look though as he lofts Harmer's third ball straight down the ground for an impressive six to take his partnership with Heino Kuhn (17 not out) past 50.

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

If you're out and about in the car or the back garden this lunchtime, you can now tune your DAB Digital Radio to BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra to hear the action between Surrey and Middlesex from The Oval.

Daniel Norcross, March Church and Kevin Hand your commentary team through until the lunch interval.

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Hands, face, space.

County cricket is a very different world, in these times...

Mark Church
BBC Radio London

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Let’s be honest, it's just lovely to have cricket back.

And to have a meaningful trophy to play for makes it even better.

The carrot of playing a "Test Match” at Lord’s is something every player will relish and it will be a very competitive couple of months.

Surrey will be without their international players who are in different bubbles elsewhere. It means younger players will get an opportunity and two to keep an eye on will be Jamie Smith and Will Jacks.

Both are hugely talented and will make in impact during what is left of the summer.

Surrey will be better for the two-day friendly against their opening round opponents Middlesex.

It was a good run out for both sides and now the proper stuff is starting that will focus the mind.

Whatever happens, county cricket is back and that is something to celebrate.

It's 1 August, which might normally mean a flurry of transfer window business in football, but Surrey have been busy making their own signing with a fast bowling acquisition for next season.

Read more about it below.

And right on cue - Haseeb Hameed is making an encouraging start to his Nottinghamshire career.

The 23-year-old has struck three fours in his unbeaten 19 so far at Trent Bridge with Chris Nash 23 not out at the other end.

Hameed's clearly very talented - as shown by averaging nearly 44 in three Tests for England in India in 2016 - and we hope he can rediscover some of that form.

Dave Bracegirdle
BBC Radio Nottingham

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Haseeb Hameed will be hoping to make up for lost time when he makes his belated Nottinghamshire debut in this competition.

The 23-year old has had a turbulent few seasons since becoming England's youngest Test opener, back in the winter of 2016/2017.

That experience followed a productive season of county cricket, whichbrought him more than 1,000 runs and four centuries.

Since that golden summer, the runs have dried up for the Bolton-bornright-hander and only one further three-figure score has materialised.

Released by Lancashire, he now he finds himself in Nottingham, with a point to prove and a career to rekindle.

Under the calming influence of head coach Peter Moores and on the same Trent Bridge ground where he registered his highest first-class score (122) four years ago, the stars would seem to be aligned for the likeable youngster to deliver some of that early promise.

Just a reminder - you can find BBC local radio commentary of all nine matches in this round of the Bob Willis Trophy at the top of this page.

Search through the options to find your match of choice.

Matt Cole
BBC Radio Kent

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Another off the production-line of classy wicketkeeper-batsmen at Canterbury, Ollie Robinson started last season with only three Championship matches under his belt.

By the end of the campaign, it was hard to imagine the team without the 21-year-old in it.

Back-to-back hundreds early on announced his arrival – a big one in Kent’s win at Edgbaston, and an arguably even better ton against a venomous Yorkshire attack - he appeared to relish the responsibility thrust on him with Sam Billings absent for much of the season.

Kent start the Bob Willis Trophy without four of their regular top six, but with a warm-up match century already under his belt against first opponents Essex, don’t be surprised if Robinson flourishes even further in 2020 both with bat and gloves.