New man in for Yorkshire at number three at Old Trafford is Will Fraine.

He has come in to replace Gary Ballance, who was ruled out of this game with a calf strain suffered earlier in the week.

The England batsman has had a scan to determine the extent of the problem, but Yorkshire are yet to divulge the outcome.

It's been a pretty free-scoring start at Chester-le-Street, largely thanks to Nick Browne's 15 off 20 balls already.

But he's just lost his opening partner Alastair Cook, the former England captain trapped lbw by veteran seamer Chris Rushworth.

Dan Wheeler
BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester

A life for in-form Jake Libby.

Drawn into a drive to a tempter from Sam Conners, the catch was shelled at first slip by Leus du Plooy who got two hands to it knee-high to his right.

The second highest run scorer in the country needs to make it count.

Warwickshire put in by Group One leaders Nottinghamshire at Edgbaston.

But the Bears have so far survived four overs from in-form Luke Fletcher and Zak Chappell.

Ben Sanderson has struck in the early throes of the game at Hove, pinning Aaron Thomason in front for four.

It's been a relatively sedate start across our seven matches, with only a couple of early wickets falling.

Daryl Mitchell is out at New Road to the first ball of the match.

An early LBW scalp for Derbyshire paceman Sam Conners.

But then new man in Tom Fell starts confidently with three boundaries - two of them off Dustin Melton at the other end.

Two overs gone. Still no runs. Saqib Mahmood also bowls a maiden to Tom Kohler-Cadmore, the last ball of which finds an edge but drops short of the slip cordon.

Yorkshire have won the toss at Old Trafford and opted to bat in the Roses Match against Lancashire.

Adam Lyth sees out the first over from Tom Bailey.

Not quite sure just how many fans are in, but it's a nice ripple of applause to acknowledge the end of Bailey's first over - a tidy maiden.

We've not been able to say this too often so far this summer... we're under way in EVERY match on time!

Dan Wheeler
BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester

After 20 aching months, the return of spectators to county grounds around the country has reached New Road.

Sensing the occasion, the weather has turned up at last too. The sun is bossing the sky. Even the mighty cathedral looks proud. Cricket feels a bit closer to completion.

It’s not perfect. The 875 socially-distanced members are seated one metre apart and have to wear face coverings - which hasn’t been popular. But at least cricket is being watched again and that comforting hum will be back, albeit more muffled than usual.

And the home fans will hope they can pep-up a Worcestershire side in danger of seeing their solid start to the season run out of gas. After five admirable draws, successive shellackings have blown a hole in the hull of their Good Ship Top-Two. If it’s to be patched-up, you feel the final three group games - all at home – probably need to be won.

Having failed to take 20 wickets in a match so far, the home attack will hope for a sportier surface than the ones seen against Essex and Notts as they take on bottom side Derbyshire - also without a win - who arrive fresh from stopping the rot of successive defeats of their own against in-form Durham in the last round.

Image source, Dan Wheeler - BBC Sport

BBC local radio

With that in mind, if you're fortunate enough not to be working - or, indeed, working from home - grab a brew, go and sit in the garden and tune into ball-by-ball commentary of all seven games.

BBC local radio has you covered for the next four days, while the Roses match is also available on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

How nice is it seeing this weather forecast?! And about time too!

We've every chance of not only getting in a full day's play across the country today but also throughout the whole weekend.

Group One

Durham v Essex, Chester-le-Street

Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire, Edgbaston

Worcestershire v Derbyshire, Worcester

Group Two

Leicestershire v Middlesex, Leicester

Surrey v Gloucestershire, Kia Oval

Group Three

Lancashire v Yorkshire, Old Trafford

Sussex v Northamptonshire, Hove

Most eyes for the next four days will be on Old Trafford, where Roses rivals Lancashire and Yorkshire meet for the first time this summer.

The two teams currently occupy the top two spots in Group Three after three wins and three draws from their first six games.

Gloucestershire, top of Group Two, are the only other team across the entire competition that remains unbeaten at this stage.

Good morning and welcome to the opening day of seven more County Championship matches.

The sun is shining (at last!) and we're in for what promises to be a belting day of cricket.