Summary

  • 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

  • Get involved #bbccricket

  1. drinks break

    Drinks break at Chelmsfordpublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Essex 123-2 v Worcestershire

    ChelmsfordImage source, PA Media

    More like a hot chocolate break on a day like today I'd say....

    But whatever Essex pair Tom Westley and Dan Lawrence have taken on board, they'll hope it keeps fuelling this third-wicket partnership now worth 66.

    Both with an opportunity here to register a half century from their first knocks of the season.

  2. 100 runs

    for Robsonpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Middlesex 150-3 v Somerset

    Sam RobsonImage source, Getty Images

    And the award for the first century of the season goes to Sam Robson. Not bad going to get there an hour after lunch on the opening day!

    The Middlesex opener clips Lewis Gregory away for three to reach his 24th first-class hundred.

    He was dropped a couple of times in the slips and has punished Somerset. 139 balls and 14 fours.

  3. 50 runs

    for Leespublished at 14:43 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Nottinghamshire v Durham 127-3

    Martin Emmerson
    BBC Radio Newcastle at Trent Bridge

    Alex Lees has battled away patiently for Durham today and has eventually reached the 47th first-class 50 of his career.

    It came in 118 balls and included nine fours, three of them in the one over from Jake Ball which took him to the 50. He's the second Durham player to reach 50 today following David Bedingham's 57 before lunch.

    Lees and Jack Burnham (12) have added 33 so far for the fourth wicket. It's a chilly and breezy day in Nottingham. A grey, cold, three jumper day. Perfect for the start of the season.

  4. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Eskinazi lbw b Gregory 22 (Middlesex 142-3 v Somerset)

    And now another wicket, this time at Lord's.

    Middlesex captain Stevie Eskinazi is trapped in front by Lewis Gregory for 22.

    Just what Somerset needed as his stand with Sam Robson (92 not out) was beginning to look dangerous.

    Stevie EskinaziImage source, Getty Images
  5. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Foakes lbw b Higgins 26 (Gloucestershire v Surrey 136-5)

    But there's a wicket at Bristol and it's the big one of England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes.

    He's on his way lbw to Ryan Higgins. Surrey are wobbling.

  6. Postpublished at 14:36 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    It's all settled down after lunch. Not many wickets about...

  7. Essex pass 100published at 14:26 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Essex 102-2 v Worcestershire

    LawrenceImage source, Rex Features

    100 up for Essex as Dan Lawrence plays a commanding cut shot for four off Joe Leach.

    He moves on to 28 not out with Tom Westley on 30 at the other end.

  8. Leach on to bowlpublished at 14:24 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Middlesex 135-2 v Somerset

    England spinner Jack Leach is given the ball for the first time today. Four come off his first over as he strays leg-side and Stevie Eskinazi tickles him down to the rope.

  9. Alsop passes fifty for Hantspublished at 14:22 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Group 2 update

    AlsopImage source, Rex Features

    Hampshire are looking in a decent position at Leicestershire despite losing Sam Northeast after lunch.

    Tom Alsop has just brought up his half-century and James Vince has struck four early boundaries to move to 22 off just 16 balls.

    Hants are 152-3.

    Ben Foakes is beginning to find his feet for Surrey - the England wicketkeeper has 25 with his side on 126-4 at Gloucestershire.

  10. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 14:21 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Cooke c Kohler-Cadmore b Patterson 1 (Yorkshire v Glamorgan 112-5)

    Two quick wickets for Yorkshire change the complexion of this game again.

    Chris Cooke lasts just five deliveries before he is well caught low at first slip by Tom Kohler-Cadmore to give Steven Patterson a second wicket.

  11. Dig-ins continue for Durham and Derbyshirepublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Group 1 update

    FletcherImage source, Rex Features

    Bowlers continue to test out the patience of the batsmen at both Trent Bridge and Edgbaston.

    Durham are 110-3 as Alex Lees (38 not out) continues to stand firm for the visitors while the likes of Luke Fletcher (above) plug away for Notts.

    Derbyshire have now passed 100 as Matt Critchley (44 not out) shows a good balance between patience and opportunism. Luis Reece (41 not out) is also standing firm as they progress to 106-4.

  12. Haines shines for Sussexpublished at 14:16 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Group 3 update

    Tom HainesImage source, Getty Images

    Wickets have been tumbling around him, but Sussex opener Tom Haines has stood tall. He's made 74 of his side's 104-4 against Lancashire. Delray Rawlins has provided some fine support in a stand of 64.

    Elsewhere in Yorkshire's group, Kent are 95-3 at Northants with opener Jordan Cox just passing fifty.

  13. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 14:15 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Carlson c Lyth b Olivier 55 (Yorkshire v Glamorgan 111-4)

    Kiran Carlson does not get handed a second life as this time Adam Lyth clings on to a sharp chance at second slip above his head.

    Carlson tried to force a drive off the back foot off Duanne Olivier.

    Billy Root (32 not out) can only watch on from the non-striker's end as that partnership worth 82 comes to an end.

  14. Postpublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Middlesex 124-2 v Somerset

    The boundaries continue to flow for Middlesex and Sam Robson.

    The opener moves into the 80s with a couple more off Josh Davey - one squirted through point, the other straight down the ground.

    15 more needed for his century.

  15. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 14:09 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Amla lbw b Shaw 56 (Gloucestershire v Surrey 109-4)

    I said a few minutes ago that I wouldn't bank against Hashim Amla scoring a 53rd century of his career. Apologies.

    The South Africa legend is gone for 56, trapped lbw by Josh Shaw.

    Gloucestershire are on top in Bristol.

  16. 50 runs

    for Kiran Carlsonpublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Yorkshire v Glamorgan 102-3

    CarlsonImage source, Rex Features

    Lovely leg glance for four from Kiran Carlson off Ben Coad brings up his half century for Glamorgan at Headingley.

    It also brings up his side's 100 with his ninth four and that 50 has come off 75 balls.

    He did survive being dropped on 15 but has looked untroubled aside from that.

  17. Lawrence settles inpublished at 14:03 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Essex 84-2 v Worcestershire

    LawrenceImage source, Rex Features

    Dan Lawrence finds the boundary after lunch as he looks to build a significant innings at the start of what could be a big summer for the right-hander.

    After his England Test debut in the winter and a couple of significant scores, he'll want to back up that faith from the selectors with some early-season runs.

    He's on to 16 not out with skipper Tom Westley unbeaten on 24 at the other end.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Tweet using #bbccricket

    Jonny Wilson: My brain hurts whenever I try to understand how people who don't follow cricket spend their summer.

    From my experience as the parent of a toddler, I'd imagine it's a lot of rotating visits to wildlife parks, play grounds and days out at the beach.

  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:58 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Tweet using #bbccricket

    Don't forget, keep your views coming in to us on social media throughout the day on how you're following this first day of the new season.

    Use #bbccricket and feel free to send us a picture of your "office setup".

    Can you come close to this one from one of our team at HQ?!

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  20. Postpublished at 13:57 British Summer Time 8 April 2021

    Middlesex 111-2 v Somerset

    Sam Robson picks up where he left off before lunch, stroking Josh Davey for a lovely straight boundary.

    His 11th of the innings. The Middlesex opener moves onto 74.