As usual, we have got every game in this opening round of the Bob Willis Trophy covered across BBC local radio.

You can find the commentary of your choice by searching through the live coverage options at the top of the page on either the BBC Sport website or the app, plus BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra will also have coverage from time-to-time on DAB Digital Radio of Surrey v Middlesex from The Oval.

Enjoy!

Government announcements on Friday relating to the latest coronavirus infection rates across England sadly saw the postponement of two more fan pilot events scheduled for the first two days of play at The Oval and Edgbaston.

Find out more below about the reasons behind the decision and also what other sporting events have been affected.

A few of the playing conditions for the Bob Willis Trophy will differ from what we normally see in the County Championship.

Here's a summary of the main ones:

• There will be a reduction to a minimum of 90 overs in a day’s play
• Each county’s first innings of a match can last no longer than 120 overs.
• The follow-on will increase from 150 to 200 runs.
• The new ball will be available after 90 overs rather than 80 overs.
• Points awarded for a draw will increase from five (in the County Championship) to eight to help mitigate against the impact of weather during a shortened competition.
• All other points scoring will remain the same as in the County Championship, such as 16 points for a win with a maximum of five batting and three bowling bonus points in the first-innings.
• For the final, in the event of a draw, whichever team gains a first-innings lead will be determined the winner when both first innings are completed. In any other circumstance of a draw or tie, the trophy will be shared.
• The loan system for this shortened season will allow counties to loan a player from another county for a minimum of a week.

NORTH GROUP: Derbyshire, Durham, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire.

CENTRAL GROUP: Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, Worcestershire.

SOUTH GROUP: Essex, Kent, Hampshire, Middlesex, Surrey, Sussex.

Image source, Rex Features

North group:

Emirates, Chester-le-Street: Durham v Yorkshire

Trent Bridge: Derbyshire v Notinghamshire

Worcester: Leicestershire v Lancashire

Central group:

Bristol: Gloucestershire v Worcestershire

Taunton: Somerset v Glamorgan

Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Northamptonshire

South group:

Chelmsford: Essex v Kent

Hove: Sussex v Hampshire

The Oval: Surrey v Middlesex

Rather than two divisions as is the case in the County Championship, the Bob Willis Trophy will see the 18 counties split into three regionalised groups of six.

Each county will play five four-day matches, meaning they will play the other teams in their group once.

This is the first day of the first round of fixtures with the final round of group matches starting on Sunday 6 September.

The two group winners with the most points after those five games will progress to the five-day final, which is set to take place at Lord's around the end of September.

Image source, Getty Images

So a new competition for a new and unique season, gets a new name after an England legend.

Bob Willis, former Surrey, Warwickshire and England fast bowler, passed away in December at the age of 70.

Only James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Sir Ian Botham have taken more Test wickets for England than Willis' 325 in his 90 Tests between 1971 and 1984.

Willis also made 170 first-class appearances in county cricket for Surrey (1969-1971) and Warwickshire (1972-1984) and took a total of 449 wickets, including 353 for the Bears, who he captained for four years.

Image source, Getty Images

It's 1 August and finally, time for a new county cricket season to begin.

310 days ago, Essex were lifting the County Championship trophy to complete a double with the T20 Blast.

Back then, few people would've imagined the situation we find ourselves in now.

But after months and month of behind-the-scenes planning and re-planning, we have a new competition involving all 18 first-class counties.

Welcome along to the opening day of the Bob Willis Trophy and to find out more, check out our handy guide below...