Image source, Rex Features

Steven Croft believes Lancashire can be satisfied with their start to the County Championship season despite the prospect of a heavy defeat by Essex on the final morning at Old Trafford.

The visitors need one wicket to wrap up an innings win after Luke Wood and James Anderson clung on through the final four and a half overs to reach stumps on the third evening.

"I think 75, 80 per cent of the cricket we've played has gone really well. Obviously it's been a little blip this week but on the whole we've done really well," Croft told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Plenty of people have been putting their hands up with the bat and the ball, it's not been down to a couple of individuals."

Our BBC local radio teams are in place to bring you ball-by-ball commentary on the final day of our five Championship games.

Choose a match from the top of the page - you can also listen to Sussex v New Zealand - and we will supply regular text updates on events elsewhere to keep you fully in the picture.

Image source, Rex Features

Yorkshire's Matthew Revis hopes to develop into a "genuine all-rounder" after underlining his batting potential with an unbeaten 53 on the third day against Warwickshire.

The 20-year-old pace bowler's half-century followed scores of 50 and 47 in his previous two innings for the county - and he put on 57 for the 10th wicket with Steven Patterson.

"Patto came out and told me to be a little bit more positive," he told BBC Radio Leeds.

"I would like to be a little big higher up the order in future, hopefully, but with the job I've got to do now, I'm really enjoying it."

Keith Barker professed himself surprised by the manner of Hampshire's victory after a dramatic Somerset collapse on Saturday at Taunton.

Barker took 6-27 - and is now Division One's leading wicket-taker with 27 - as the home side were all out for 69.

"No-one expected that. At the start of the day, we were just trying to make sure we could get ahead with the bat," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"We thought if could get 50, 100 in front it would be difficult, but we weren't expecting 10 wickets in a session."

Image source, Rex Features

Bowling coach Simon Cook praised the discipline of Kent's attack after a tough third day on a flat pitch at Northampton.

The home side added 326 runs for the loss of five wickets after resuming on 21-2 and a draw is now the most likely result - unless Kent can finish off their first innings quickly.

"The difference from other games is that we held our lengths for longer," Cook told BBC Radio Kent.

"We created opportunities with the new ball, lots going past the outside edge, but when it got a bit softer our discipline was much better, either staying very straight or going into the channel. When you can hold your line and length, it's much easier to set fields."

He looks so young - mind you, so does Anthony McGrath, now Essex head coach. And, of course, the pair are on the same ground again this morning. Bet Anthony is the happier man.

Very little rain about yesterday, with the final overs of play at Headingley the only ones lost to the weather, if memory serves us correctly.

Not a bad forecast for today either, so let's hope the five remaining games can all be played to a proper finish.

Division One

Lancashire 103 & 213-9 v Essex 391

Lancashire trail by 75 with 1 wicket standing

Northamptonshire 347-7 v Kent 519-9 dec

Northants trail by 172 with 3 wickets standing

Yorkshire 449 v Warwickshire 244 & 57-3

Warwickshire trail by 148 with 7 wickets standing

Division Two

Middlesex 422 v Durham 350 & 25-3

Durham trail by 47 with 7 wickets standing

Nottinghamshire 358 & 3-0 v Derbyshire 260 & 262

Nottinghamshire need 162 more to win with 10 wickets standing

---Day three results---

Somerset 211 & 69 v Hampshire 280 & 1-0

Hampshire won by 10 wickets

Worcestershire 577-6 dec v Leicestershire 148 & 170

Worcestershire won by an innings and 259 runs

We began the current round of Championship games with nine England players involved and although Somerset lost in three days, giving Craig Overton and Jack Leach extra time off, seven of them may be donning the whites again today.

There will be batting to do for Ben Stokes in Durham's game at Lord's - hopefully a bit more than James Anderson is likely to manage with Lancashire one wicket away from defeat by Essex.,

Fielding duty beckons for Joe Root, Harry Brook and Zak Crawley, but Stuart Broad will be hoping he can put his feet up on the balcony as Notts chase a modest target against Derbyshire.

Welcome to our coverage. Play starts at 11:00.