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Division One champions Surrey start their title defence at Lancashire
Newly promoted Nottinghamshire travel to Hampshire; Middlesex host Essex
Day one of Somerset v Warwickshire rained off in Taunton
Yorkshire begin season in Division Two at home against Leicestershire
Fellow relegated side Gloucestershire in action at Glamorgan
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Middx v Essex 74-2
Steady away for Essex since lunch with Dan Lawrence and Tom Westley trying to settle into their afternoon’s cricket.
Tom Helm has reeled off six cheap overs for the hosts, who also have Tom Hollman’s leg spin to call on.
They should have had South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj before his bizzare but awful injury celebrating a wicket against West Indies recently.
Sussex v Durham 45-0
Only 10 overs of play so far, but Durham have made a very confident start.
Opners Michael Jones and Alex Lees are ticking along at 4.5 runs per over.
Of course, Lees was given first chance to be part of the Bazball revolution with the England Test side, but after playing a full summer, he did not get to tour in the winter.
Hampshire v Nottinghamshire 112-5
Joe Clarke advances down the wicket and whips Mo Abbas through midwicket for four.
Clarke moves into the 40s and he is playing a vital hand for his team.
You spend all winter dreaming of batting in glorious sunshine and short sleeves, but the realities of county cricket are somewhat different.
Derbyshire v Worcestershire
Also a 2.00 start at Derby, where winter signings Adam Hose and Matthew Waite both make their Worcestershire debut.
The Pears have won the toss and put Derby in.
The hosts havbe handed debuts to Haider Ali, Matt Lamb and Zak Chappell.
Kent v Northants
Andrew Radd
BBC Radio Northampton
Kent have won the toss and - to the surprise of no-one at all - will bowl first in cool and overcast conditions here at Canterbury. A scheduled 70 overs' play today, weather permitting.
Northamptonshire give debuts to Hasan Azad, Chris Tremain and Sam Whiteman - the first time the county has handed debuts to three players in the same County Championship match since 2006, when Lance Klusener, Matt Nicholson, Stephen Peters and Chris Rogers all appeared for the first time against Essex.
Meanwhile, Michael Hogan makes his debut for Kent at the age of 41.
But it’s now raining at Canterbury!
On this week’s show, with Alison Mitchell, Brett Sprigg and Charu Sharma:
West Indies captain and WPL winner Hayley Matthews says that playing for her country is still her ‘number one priority.
They discuss a landmark week in Australia, where Cricket Australia have announced an increase in payments for all centrally contracted cricketers, with female players now set to become the nation's highest paid women's athletes in Australian team sport.
Image source, Ged Scott - BBC SportThey also ask Ian Marshall, the editor of the Playfair Cricket Annual, is there still a place for the physical booklet in cricket/sport when we are in a digital age?
Hampshire v Nottinghamshire 93-5
Three balls into the second session and Mohammad Abbas has his fourth wicket.
The wily Pakistan seamer brings one back into Steven Mullaney's pads and the Notts skipper is a goner.
He has 4-27 as he puts Hampshire in a strong position.
Lancashire v Surrey 99-4
This is a big innings for Ben Foakes with England director of cricket Rob Key watching on.
Jonny Bairstow wants his England place back and with Harry Brook looking a fixture in the side, Bairstow is most likely to get back in as wicketkeeper.
That puts the pressure on Foakes to produce runs in these early weeks of the season.
He will hope for something similar to his last knock at Old Trafford - a Test best 113 not out against South Africa last August.
He is currently 24 not out.
Image source, Getty ImagesSussex v Durham 11-0
Play has begun at Hove where Sussex have won the toss and are bowling.
Essex 48-2 (14.2 overs) v Middlesex
Don Topley
BBC Essex
Middlesex will be pleased with their two wickets in successive balls in an on-off morning session of just 14.2 overs.
After the hosts won the toss and put Essex in, the visitors played nicely and were looking safe at 38-0 before Alastair Cook was strangled down the leg side off Middlesex captain Toby Roland Jones for John Simpson to take a fine legside catch.
From the very next ball, bowled at the other end by Tim Murtagh, Nick Browne flayed to edge to second slip where Sam Robson took a excellent and fast reactionary catch.
Division One
Southampton: Notts 93-4 (28 overs) v Hampshire
Manchester: Surrey 85-4 (27 overs) v Lancashire
Lord's: Essex 48-2 (14.2 overs) v Middlesex
Kent v Northamptonshire
No play before lunch at Canterbury because of rain
Somerset v Warwickshire:
No play on first day at Taunton because of rain
Division Two
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 0-0 (0.4 balls) v Gloucestershire
Leeds: Yorkshire 130-2 (27 overs) v Leicestershire
Derbyshire v Worcestershire:
No play before lunch at Derby because of rain
Sussex v Durham
No play before lunch at Hove because of rain
Yorkshire 130-2 (27 overs) v Leicestershire
Decent morning of fast-moving Championship cricket at Headingley.
A fine career-best 65 in 73 balls from Yorkshire opener Fin Bean, which has included 12 fours.
And Dawid Malan has struck three of his own to quickly move onto 17.
The only thing slow is the Leicestershire over rate. Just 27 bowled in the morning session. But new England spinner Rehan Ahmed went for 22 off one of them.
Hampshire v Nottinghamshire 93-4
Interesting morning in Southampton. After a positive start from the Notts openers, three wickets from Mohammad Abbas has pegged them back.
Notts skipper Steven Mullaney is at the crease - probably not what he would have wanted after deciding to bat first thing this morning.
Lancashire v Surrey 85-4
A good session between the last year's Champions and runners-up.
Not easy for batting by any means, but Surrey have grafted hard against some good Lancashire bowling, in particular the nagging accuracy of Will Williams.
Honours about even.
Middx v Essex 48-2
Slightly longer early lunch at HQ but not too long to wait.
Hampshire v Nottinghamshire 88-4
If Mohammad Abbas or Keith Barker don't get you, then Kyle Abbott will.
The South Africa bowler bends his back and the extra bounce sees off Lyndon James, who is caught at second slip by Liam Dawson.
First wicket of the morning for Abbott, who may have helped his side claims the honours from this session.
Lancashire v Surrey 77-4
This is what Colin de Grandhomme does!
Not the fastest bowler around, but he hits the right areas and he forces Dom Sibley to play at one and the ball goes into the gloves of George Bell.
Frustration for Sibley that he can't make it through to lunch after battling hard for his 35 on his Surrey return.
Sussex v Durham (13.30 BST)
After an inspection by the umpires, play will begin on the south coast at 1.30pm, if there is no further rain.
Lunch is now being taken and the toss will take place at 1pm.
Image source, Adrian Harms - BBC SportLancashire v Surrey 72-3
Image source, Getty ImagesAfter that long opening spell from Tom Bailey and Will Williams, Luke Wood and Colin de Grandhomme have come into the attack.
This is the New Zealand all-rounder's first game for his fourth county - he played for Surrey last year. The portly physique remains, but the mullet is no more.
Hampshire v Nottinghamshire 77-3
It has been tough going for Ben Slater and he's been undone by a fine piece of work from Mohammad Abbas.
Abbas jags one across the left-hander and the edge flies into the safe hands of James Vince at first slip.
Two catches for Vince. Three wickets for Abbas. First bonus point of the season for Hampshire.