Prospects of play at Wantage Road.

An 11:30 inspection.

Andrew Radd
BBC Radio Northampton at Wantage Road

Ricardo Vasconcelos does his first job right as Northamptonshire's newly-appointed red-ball captain, winning the toss and choosing to bowl first on a blustery morning at Wantage Road as the hosts return to Division One for the first time in eight years.

But Gloucestershire will have to wait a little while to get their innings underway as a rain shower blows across the ground and the covers are on. Hopefully not a lengthy delay.

On a day when there will be packed sporting arenas elsewhere at Aintree and Augusta, it's also the time of year for a well merited tip of the hat - or a bobble hat bump at the very least - for the hardy souls here at Edgbaston today.

Image source, Edgbaston on the 7th of April

The County Championship is sadly no longer a competition watched by packed crowds. And spectators are generally particularly sparse at this time of year. But, in weather like this, you really have got to love your cricket to be here watching this.

The lights are on - but almost no-one's 'at home'.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle at Sophia Gardens

Image source, Getty Images

The sun is out in Cardiff but it's also cold and windy. At least though, the rain has gone.

Durham have put Glamorgan in and it's the first time the sides have met in the opening encounter of a County Championship season. This is Durham's 30th season in first-class cricket.

Both sides are without their big overseas signings this week but Glamorgan give a debut to former Kent and Hampshire batsman Sam Northeast.

As a teenager he made his debut for Kent against Durham in 2007. And 10 years later, as Matty Potts made his debut as a 17-year-old for Durham, Northeast scored back-to-back hundreds in a draw in Canterbury.

Potts plays in this one while Alex Lees, fresh from his England debut, will open for Durham later in the game.

And it's Potts who's made the first breakthrough of the match, getting one to nip back and take Andrew Salter's middle stump out for just one.

Bit brighter looking at the Ageas Bowl, but still plenty of layers being worn by the Hampshire players in the slip cordon.

Mohammad Abbas and Keith Barker yet to find a way past the defences of either Ben Green or Tom Lammonby opening up for Somerset.

Two title contenders in action in this one first up?

A very, very blustery start to the season at Chelmsford.

The latest "Battle of the Bridge" between Essex and Kent sees the hosts inserted by Kent with Jackson Bird and Matt Milnes sharing the new ball.

Sir Alastair Cook and Nick Browne so far managing to stay on their feet and negotiate the first two windy overs.

Ryan Patel starts well with an early boundary as six runs come from Craig Miles' first over.

No immediate prospect of getting underway at Wantage Road sadly.

Northampton has pretty much the same weather forecast as Birmingham today - but has obviously been a bit damper overnight as the outfield is still wet.

At Edgbaston it's perfectly dry. With what feels like an Arctic wind to make it feel like fun for bowlers, batsmen, fielders and those poor umpires alike.

As ever, we'd love to hear from you all throughout the day and indeed the season through social media.

Use #bbccricket to have your say.

Who are your tips for the title, relegation and promotion come September?

Put the case across for your county in 2022 and we'll share as many as we can throughout the day.

Image source, Getty Images

Off and running again at Edgbaston as Rory Burns sees out a maiden over from Olly Hannon-Dalby.

Now Craig Miles from the Pavilion End.

Image source, Rex Features

Right then! Time to get the new season under way...

Players on their way out and spectators layered-up in the stands.

Go well all!

Surrey skipper Rory Burns has won the first toss of the season at Edgbaston.

They have chosen to bat against the county champions.

The England man will open the batting, with Ryan Patel, presumably with South Africa star Hashim Amla to come at 3, then two more of Surrey's England brigade to come, in Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes.

The Bears, who are without suspended new signing Alex Davies, have another England opener Dom Sibley, plus fellow internationals Sam Hain and Danny Briggs - and a fit-again Henry Brookes and Olly Hannon-Dalby. But Liam Norwell is out with a back spasm.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Sophia Gardens

Grey skies, blustery winds and a chill in the air. The cricket season has arrived in Cardiff.

Durham have won the toss and will bowl first - good news for anyone with Chris Rusworth in their fantasy cricket teams. The veteran seamer took 59 wickets at 18.18 runs apiece last year.

England opener Alex Lees is in the Durham line-up today, while Glamorgan are without Australia internationals Michael Neser, who's recovering from a side strain, and Marnus Labuschagne, who has not arrived back from Pakistan in time.

One other interesting bit of team news for the home side is that all-rounder Andrew Salter is promoted to open the batting for the first time in his first-class career.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Edgbaston

Image source, BBC Sport

It was bubbly out on the pitch at Edgbaston for Warwickshire when they celebrated their 2021 County Championship title triumph last September.

Today it’s bobble hats, hoodies and full tracksuits as they warm-up.

And there will be secret hand warmers in pockets if they have to go out and field.

It’s less than 10 degrees out there, and there’s a cold wind blowing that feels like it’s flown in straight from the Ural Mountains.

BBC Test Match Special

In case you missed it earlier this week, Kevin Howells previewed the new county cricket season with a special edition of the TMS Podcast.

BBC Sport commentators Mark Church, Emily Windsor and Nikesh Rughani joined Kevin as well as two special guests in the shape of Warwickshire director of sport Paul Farbrace and Nottinghamshire director of cricket Peter Moores.

The two former England coaches gave a staunch defence of the county system after a winter where disappointing performances for England in Test cricket saw it come under sharp scrutiny.

Click or tap the play icon above to listen in full or follow the link here.

BBC local radio

Once again this season, BBC Sport will bring you commentary of every ball of every match in the County Championship as well as coverage later in the year from both the One-Day Cup and T20 Blast.

You can find commentaries of all eight fixtures in this opening round by searching through the live coverage options at the top of this page and clicking or tapping on the game you want to hear.

Alongside that, they'll also be coverage from Edgbaston on DAB Digital Radio and via the BBC Sounds app from BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra of Warwickshire v Surrey with Kevin Howells leading the commentary.

Brief update from Northampton to that previous post where new Northants skipper Ricardo Vascancelos has won the toss and elected to bowl first.

But a shower is passing through and the covers are on so may well be a delayed start still.

Image source, Rex Features

Division One:

Chelmsford: Essex v Kent - Kent win toss and elect to bowl

Ageas Bowl: Hampshire v Somerset - Somerset win toss and elect to bat

Northampton: Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire - Toss delayed by wet outfield

Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Surrey - Surrey win toss and elect to bat

Division Two:

Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Durham - Durham win toss and elect to bowl

Leicester: Leicestershire v Worcestershire - Worcestershire win toss and elect to bat

Lord's: Middlesex v Derbyshire - Derbyshire win toss and elect to bowl

Hove: Sussex v Nottinghamshire - Notts win toss and elect to bowl