All 18 counties play on opening day of 2021 County Championship season
Teams split into three groups of six
Defending champions Essex host Worcestershire
England Test captain Joe Root plays for Yorkshire
Listen to ball-by-ball BBC local radio commentary from all nine games
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Here's a closer look at how the new format will work and who to look out for this summer...
With the County Championship making an eagerly anticipated return on Thursday, here's a look at who and what to watch out for.
Read MoreEvery ball covered
Once again BBC local radio is providing ball-by-ball live commentary from every County Championship and limited-overs game this season.
To listen, click on your desired match at the top of this page.
There is also commentary from Essex against Worcestershire on Radio 5 live sports extra.
An important thing to keep an eye as ever is the weather forecast for today.
That bright sunshine on Easter Day seems a distant memory now as the chillier temperatures continue for many.
Let's hope some of those showers stay away too, although the covers are hovering about at Lord's.
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Middlesex v Somerset (11:00 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesSo often the nearly men of red-ball cricket, could this finally be the year that Somerset claim their first County Championship title?
Second to Essex in 2019. Second to Surrey in 2018. Second to Middlesex in 2016. Surely the tide has to turn at some point?
Under the stewardship of Tom Abell, it's a squad packed full of talent - Tom Banton, Lewis Gregory, James Hildreth, Craig Overton and Jack Leach are all in the starting XI today.
Middlesex have endured a lean run since their title triumph five years ago, but with a pace bowling attack including Toby Roland-Jones, Tim Murtagh, Tom Helm and the exciting Ethan Bamber you'd be silly to write them off again.
Essex v Worcestershire (11:00 BST)
Image source, Rex FeaturesEssex start the new season effectively holding two titles rather than just one.
Not only are they defending the 2019 County Championship they won in an eventful last round fixture against Somerset but also the Bob Willis Trophy they claimed against the same opposition at Lord's in September.
Both of those trophies are of course up for grabs again and Essex will be among many pundits' favourites to be in contention for them come the end of this campaign.
Simon Harmer is back again for the hosts, this time as an overseas player after the changes to Kolpak registrations over the winter while Dan Lawrence, Alastair Cook, Ryan ten Doeschate, Jamie Porter and Sam Cook will be key figures with both bat and ball again.
Worcestershire possess some talented homegrown players plus a new addition in Gareth Roderick who made the move from Gloucestershire.
Joe Leach leads the Pears yet again as skipper.
Image source, Getty ImagesEssex, Hampshire and Sussex have all decided to have a bat first. The other six toss winners will take the new cherry.
Group 1
Essex v Worcestershire - Essex chose to bat
Nottinghamshire v Durham - Notts chose to bowl
Warwickshire v Derbyshire - Bears chose to bowl
Group 2
Gloucestershire v Surrey - Glos chose to bowl
Leicestershire v Hampshire - Hants chose to bat
Middlesex v Somerset - Somerset chose to bowl
Group 3
Northamptonshire v Kent - Northants chose to bowl
Sussex v Lancashire - Sussex chose to bat
Yorkshire v Glamorgan - Yorks chose to bowl
With England not back in international action until 2 June, there's an opportunity for many both currently in the side and on the fringes to find some form in the four-day game.
Here's who's been made available by the ECB for this opening round:
Yorkshire v Glamorgan (11:00 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesJoe Root and Billy Root will line up against each other for the first time in a County Championship fixture as Glamorgan visit Headingley to take on Yorkshire.
England skipper Joe is set to play at least the first two rounds of the Championship and possiby more while younger brother Billy returns to his old stomping ground in his second season with Glamorgan.
Yorkshire will hope to be in contention when the competition splits into three divisions later in the season and possess an imposing seam bowling attack.
Glamorgan have new addition Andy Balbirnie in their ranks as the Ireland captain begins another stint in county cricket. Former Durham and Leicestershire all-rounder James Weighell and young left-arm seamer Jamie McIlroy are also two new additions.
Even though Covid-19 restrictions are beginning to ease in England and Wales, protocols remain in place at all games.
And for the first few weeks at least they'll be behind closed doors. If you've ever sat at a county ground in April... it might be for the best to keep an eye on things with us indoors!
Image source, Rex FeaturesAll games start at 11:00 BST
Group 1
Essex v Worcestershire
Nottinghamshire v Durham
Warwickshire v Derbyshire
Group 2
Gloucestershire v Surrey
Leicestershire v Hampshire
Middlesex v Somerset
Group 3
Northamptonshire v Kent
Sussex v Lancashire
Yorkshire v Glamorgan
Image source, Getty ImagesAfter its hiatus in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, the County Championship makes a welcome return this season.
It's slightly different to what we've been used to - there will be three groups of six sides for starters - but it does mean we get to see all 18 counties in action in the first round.
There's something comforting about having red-ball cricket back, isn't there?
Image source, Rex FeaturesJumpers, coats and woolly hats? Tick.
Snow this week? Tick.
Smell of freshly mown grass? Tick.
It can only mean one thing... the start of the County Championship season is here!
Image source, Rex Features