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

  1. rain stops play

    Start still delayed at Derbypublished at 11:47 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Derbyshire v Worcestershire

    "Still to get going here at Derby but it’s sunny," says BBC Hereford & Worcester's Chris Williams.

    "I wouldn’t be surprised if they take an early lunch and aim to start around 1.10.

    "Nothing official on that but looking promising."

  2. rain stops play

    Rain stops play at Lord'spublished at 11:46 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Middx v Essex 38-2

    It was a bright start for Essex but losing both openers in two balls leaves Middlesex the happier as a shower arrives in NW8.

  3. Postpublished at 11:41 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Lancashire v Surrey 25-1

    Fascinating move as wicketkeeper George Bell is standing up to the stumps as Will Williams comes in to bowl at Ollie Pope.

    While Dom Sibley plays an anchor role, Pope's intent is clear as he is good enough to score quickly.

    At the other end, Tom Bailey is certain he has Pope caught behind as the batter is on the wander, but it appears that the ball hit thigh pad and not bat on its way through to Bell.

    Judging by Lancashire's appeal, the value of Pope's wicket is very high.

  4. wicket

    WICKET Lyth lbw Hull 21published at 11:40 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Yorkshire 35-1 v Leicestershire

    Leicestershire take their first wicket of the season as Adam Lyth is trapped leg before wicket by debutant Josh Hull, with only his fourth ball in first-class cricket.

    The Cambridgeshire-born left-armer went to Stamford School, where former England paceman Dean Headley has has spent the last five years as Director of Cricket.

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  5. wicket

    WICKET Browne c Robson b Murtagh 22published at 11:39 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Middx v Essex 38-2

    Two wickets in two balls and now Nick Browne is out too!

    He tries to force Tim Murtagh off the back foot but it's maybe too close to him and there may have been a fraction extra bounce that causes an flashing edge to second slip.

    Really sharp catch by Sam Robson to his right shoulder.

  6. wicket

    WICKET Cook c Simpson b Roland-Jones 16published at 11:37 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Middx v Essex 38-1

    Alastair Cook walks off after being dismissedImage source, Rex Features

    Former England captain Alastair Cook is gone!

    Just after he'd clipped his first boundary through square leg.

    He tries another leg side flick off Toby Roland-Jones but only tickles one behind and John Simpson takes a simple catch to his right.

    Most unfortunate and a huge boon for Middlesex.

  7. rain stops play

    No play before lunch at Hovepublished at 11:36 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Sussex v Durham

    Martin Emmerson
    BBC Radio Newcastle

    Covers on at Sussex CCCImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    A gloomy morning in Hove

    There's no play this morning on day one of Sussex v Durham following lots of overnight rain. There will be an inspection in the next hour.

    I am told the outfield is quite soft but they hope to get going this afternoon.

    The forecast looks better this afternoon, while tomorrow looks fine for a Good Friday sell-out.

    Durham, last in action 189 days ago, are set to give debuts to former Kent wicket-keeper Ollie Robinson and Australian spinner Matt Kuhnemann.

    There could well be a debut too for young batsman Ben McKinney, who has captained England Under-19s during the winter.

    No Ollie Robinson for the hosts though. He was hoping to play in this one but has been told to rest by England.

  8. Postpublished at 11:34 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Yorkshire 27-0 v Leicestershire

    No wickets and 27 runs off the first eight overs of the day in the first half hour in Leeds.

    Yorkshire openers Adam Lyth (27) and Fin Bean (10) have made a solid start.

    Wrong decision to bowl?

  9. Postpublished at 11:30 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Lancashire v Surrey 16-1

    Will Williams thinks he has Dom Sibley trapped in front but does not convince umpire Neil Mallender that he has done enough.

    Sibley's response is a fine on-drive off Tom Bailey for four - a fine way to get the first boundary off the bat this morning.

  10. Duckett in a hurrypublished at 11:26 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Hampshire v Nottinghamshire 26-0

    Contrary to the scorecard, Ben Duckett is opening the batting for Nottinghamshire.

    Although he spent much of last season at three, it makes sense given that is his role for England and is likely to be doing it in the Ashes in mid-summer.

    He's already hit three fours and has moved to 17 off 19 balls, which is closer to Bazball-like scoring than some of the usual county scoring rates.

  11. rain stops play

    Rain stops play at Cardiffpublished at 11:26 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Glam v Glos 0-0

    Four balls is all they managed at Cardiff before the first rain delay of the season!

    Gloucestershire, relegated after a miserable time last season, are looking to bounce straight back up and an early test having lost the toss and been sent in.

    Reminder that at Canterbury, Hove and Derby they will all inspect at midday after overnight and morning rain.

  12. Postpublished at 11:20 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Middx v Essex 15-0

    Really bright start for Nick Browne with three early boundaries at HQ.

    He's crashed two off the back foot square on the off side and added a sweet off drive too.

    Toby Roland-Jones opening the bowling for Middlesex and captain for the first time.

    He took over from the old stager Tim Murtagh, who is back for more as well at the age of 41.

  13. wicket

    WICKET Burns c Bell b Williams 1published at 11:17 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Lancashire v Surrey 8-1

    Lancashire celebrate the wicket of Rory BurnsImage source, PA Media

    What was I saying?!

    Rory Burns has to go! He's caught out by a fine ball across him from Will Williams and he nicks it behind.

    The Surrey skipper goes for one, one more than in his last match batting with Dom Sibley.

    Ollie Pope is the new man in at three.

  14. Burns and Sibley back in tandempublished at 11:16 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Lancashire v Surrey 7-0

    Rory Burns and Dom SibleyImage source, Getty Images

    Not many counties can count having an England opening pair together, but that is the case for Surrey with captain Rory Burns and Dom Sibley.

    They were England's opening pair between 2019 and 2021. They actually played three Tests together here at Old Trafford during the Covid summer of 2020.

    Their last innings together was not a happy one, though, as both made a duck as England lost to India at Lord's on day five as India's tail wagged and England's batting collapsed - a dark day during the previous incarnation of the Test team.

    Quiet progress here so far as they take on Lancashire new ball duo Tom Bailey and Will Williams.

  15. Postpublished at 11:12 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Yorkshire 5-0 v Leicestershire

    One Adam Lyth boundary off Chris Wright as Yorkshire launch the new season in Leeds. Then a Fin Bean single off the second over.

    This is the only game taking place in Division Two after late starts at Hove and Derby - and just four balls bowled in Cardiff before they took refuge.

  16. Four!published at 11:03 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Hampshire v Nottinghamshire 4-0

    First ball of the new season, Keith Barker to Haseeb Hameed and the batter gets four, steering one past the slips to the boundary.

    Strike rate - 400!

    And then dropped second ball as Ian Holland shells one at third slip. All happening in Southampton after just two deliveries!

  17. rain stops play

    No play today at Tauntonpublished at 10:58 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Somerset v Warwickshire

    Just a reminder that there will be no play today at rain-hit Taunton.

    Somerset and Warwickshire will hope for better luck tomorrow.

  18. Listen Livepublished at 10:55 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Live BBC commentary on all nine matches

    You can tune in to live ball-by-ball radio commentary from the BBC's local teams by clicking on the audio links at the top of this page.

    All nine matches are covered.

  19. Leicestershire win the toss and fieldpublished at 10:51 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Yorkshire v Leicestershire (11:00 BST)

    Visitors Leicestershire have won the toss in Leeds and skipper Lewis Hill has decided to field.

    So new signing Shai Hope may not have long to wait for his first bat.

    Adam Lyth opens with Fin Bean.

    New Foxes signing Peter Handscomb will be kept waiting though.

  20. Notts win the toss and will batpublished at 10:51 British Summer Time 6 April 2023

    Hampshire v Nottinghamshire (11.00 BST)

    Last year's Division Two champions Nottinghamshire are at the Ageas Bowl for their opening game in the top flight.

    Captain Steven Mullaney has called correctly and has decided to bat. An interesting call as his batters will have to overcome that wily trio of Keith Barker, Kyle Abbott and Mohammad Abbas in the Hampshire line-up.

    Hampshire give a debut to Fletcha Middleton at the top of the order, while there is a first Notts game for quick Olly Stone after his switch from Warwickshire, while England Test opener Ben Duckett is down to bat at three on the scorecard.

    Hampshire: Organ, Middleton, Gubbins, Vince (c), Brown (wk), Dawson, Holland, Barker, Fuller, Abbott, Abbas.

    Nottinghamshire: Slater, Hameed, Duckett, Clarke, James, Mullaney (c), Moores (wk), Patterson-White, Stone, Fletcher, Paterson.