Summary

  • Use audio icons at the top of the page to listen to BBC local radio commentaries

  • 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

  • Get involved via #bbccricket

Live Reporting

Ged Scott, Adam Lanigan and Alex Winter

  1. wicket

    Wharton c Handscomb b Finan 24

    Yorkshire 104-2 v Leicestershire

    After a busy stand of 69 in just 11 overs, Yorkshire lose their second wicket.

    Left-armer Mike Finan has James Wharton strangled for 24.

    Fin Bean (54) is joined by England's Dawid Malan

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  2. 100 runs

    Hundred up for Yorkshire at Headingley

    Yorkshire 100-1 v Leicestershire

    Yorkshire are still going well at Headingley as Fin Bean reaches his 50.

    It is only his second in first-class cricket - and he then surpasses his previous best of 53 as the Tykes bring the 100 up.

  3. Get Involved

    #bbccricket

    Simon Mahon: Feel like Will Williams could really tear it up in the County Championship this summer #bbccricket

  4. 2.00 start scheduled at Derby

    Derbyshire v Worcestershire

    Chris Williams
    BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Derbyshire boss Mickey Arthur was also out inspecting the wicketDave Fletcher - BBC Radio Derby

    Derbyshire boss Mickey Arthur was also out inspecting the wicket

    Following a pitch inspection, Worcestershire’s opening Championship game against Derbyshire is due to get under way at 2 o’clock.

    Providing there is no further rain, the toss will take place at 1:30.

    That would leave 67 overs to be bowled in the day.

    Still waiting for team news, but Derbyshire are expected to hand debuts to Haider Ali, Matt Lamb and Zak Chappell.

  5. 'Scoring rate dropped after Duckett wicket'

    Hampshire v Nottinghamshire 64-2

    Kevan James
    Former Middlesex & Hampshire cricketer on BBC Radio Solent

    The scoring rate has dropped since the wicket of Ben Duckett.

    Hampshire’s three main bowlers - Abbott, Abbas and Barker have dropped back into their familiar routine of nagging away on a good line and length.

    It’s been a solid session so far for the home side after dropping Haseeb Hameed in the slips second ball of the day.

  6. 13:00 BST inspection at Canterbury

    Kent v Northamptonshire

    No play or even a toss so far down at the St Lawrence ground.

    The umpires had a check at midday and will now look again shortly.

  7. Anyone got a spanner?

    Gloucestershire 0-0 (0.4 balls) v Glamorgan

    Nick Webb
    BBC Radio Wales

    Problems at Sophia Gardens where torrential rain drove the players off after just four balls.

    Play was due to resume at mid-day, but the hover cover could not be positioned to cover all the wicket.

    Although conditions have been passed fit, the cover is still positioned on the square and the scheduled re-start will be delayed, so they are taking lunch.

    Anyone got a spanner?

  8. rain stops play

    Rain stops play at Lord's

    Middx v Essex 48-2

    Dan Lawrence has struck a very sweet straight drive to get Essex going again after the restart.

    Allrounder Ryan Higgins - now permanently back at Middlesex having left Gloucestershire on loan towards the back end of last summer - is into the attack and begins with a maiden.

    But rain then returns - and could bring an early lunch.

  9. Hampshire v Nottinghamshire 53-2

    Notts steamrollered their way through Division Two last season, racking up lots of big totals.

    But this game at the Ageas Bowl is a really good test of their batting line-up as you will struggle to find a better seam attack than Hampshire's.

    Ben Slater and Joe Clarke are really having to work hard for their runs at the moment.

  10. Fingers crossed for Good Friday at Taunton

    Somerset v Warwickshire. No play on day one.

    Clive Eakin
    BBC CWR Sport

    There has been some pleasant sunshine at Taunton this morning but the ground has struggled to cope with heavy rain over the previous few days.

    The umpires were able to make an early decision to abandon the first day and, when asked about prospects for tomorrow's Good Friday bank holiday crowd, Rob Bailey gave a 'fingers crossed' sign.

    As for Warwickshire's prospects for the season, they've added some much needed depth to the bowling attack with the arrival of Hasan Ali, Chris Rushworth and Ed Barnard.

    Liam Norwell was ruled out of the first squad with a "slight back issue", but he will hope to play a lot more games this summer after that spectacular final day 9-62 haul which kept the Bears in Division One.

    The batting could be a concern for Bears fans, with Dom Sibley not really replaced. They'll be hoping Rob Yates can get back to his best.

    Heat lamps in operation at Taunton

    The outfield at Taunton on Day One of the season

  11. wicket

    WICKET Patel lbw b Williams 3

    Lancashire v Surrey 44-3

    Will Williams strikes again for the hosts!

    Absolutely no hesitation about this as he pins Ryan Patel on the crease as the batter tries to work one to leg.

    A disappointing middle order knock having spent last summer opening alongside Rory Burns.

    England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes is the new man in at number five.

  12. 50 runs

    Yorkshire post 50 at Headingley

    Yorkshire 61-1 v Leicestershire

    Opener Fin Bean hits his sixth boundary of the morning as Yorkshire score quite freely.

    The Tykes are already going at four an over for oly the loss of skipper Adam Lyth.

    Not quite Bazball, but it's nice to watch.

  13. Lunch - Hover cover stopped play

    Glam v Glos 0-0

    Yes that's right!

    The hover cover has broken down at Sophia Gardens so the planned midday restart has been pushed back.

    They will take an early lunch at 12:30 BST to try and get it fixed.

  14. Hint of rain in Manchester

    Lancashire v Surrey 40-2

    There is rain in the air at Old Trafford and a few coats are going on amongst the hardy spectators, but for now we carry on playing.

    It has been a decent first hour of the season and a good scrap between bat and ball.

  15. wicket

    WICKET Hameed c Brown b Abbas 16

    Hampshire v Nottinghamshire 45-2

    Mohammad Abbas has now dismissed both Notts openers!

    He gets one to just bounce a touch more outside off stump and Haseeb Hameed is tempted and edges it through to Ben Brown.

    Early April at Southampton is not an easy place to bat.

  16. Back underway at Lord's

    Middx v Essex 38-2

    Only a brief delay at HQ and Essex back out with Tom Westley and Dan Lawrence trying to rebuild for the visitors.

  17. wicket

    WICKET Pope lbw b Bailey 13

    Lancashire v Surrey 35-2

    Ollie Pope walks offPA Media

    And Rob Key watches on as Ollie Pope is dismissed...

    Tom Bailey pins him in front of leg stump and Pope is out for 13 off 21 balls.

    A first wicket of 2023 for this consistent county performer in his seventh over, who usually finds a wicket or two with the new ball.

  18. England supremo here at Old Trafford

    Lancashire v Surrey 35-1

    Rob KeyGetty Images

    England's director of cricket, Rob Key, is here in attendance for day one at Old Trafford, along with new chief selector, Luke Wright.

    They will have enjoyed this shot as Ollie Pope caresses a lovely boundary through the covers off Tom Bailey.

  19. 12:00 BST restart at Cardiff

    Glam v Glos 0-0

    Four balls is all they managed at 11am.

    Hopefully much more to come soon at Sophie Gardens after Glamorgan won the toss.

  20. wicket

    WICKET Duckett c Vince b Abbas 24

    Hampshire 42-1 v Nottinghamshire

    Breakthrough for the hosts at Southampton.

    Ben Duckett had been going along nicely but he is undone by the evergreen Mohammad Abbas, who gets the batter caught at first slip, driving at one from round the wicket.

    Easy one for James Vince in the slips and the skipper will be pleased to have that first wicket.