Jamie Smith certainly is looking good this morning.

Another glorious cover drive brings him four off Ed Barnard and Surrey will be feeling a little bit more comfortable following the loss of Rory Burns and Ryan Patel.

Partner Dom Sibley continues to be the immoveable object as ht plays out a maiden from Oliver Hannon-Dalby.

Kevan James
BBC Radio Solent commentator

A steady start to the morning from Hampshire on what looks to be a fairly placed pitch.

Toby Albert has been given a chance at the top of the order - the 21-year-old is playing his first championship game for the county, and just his second in all, having made his competition debut whilst on loan at Kent back in July

He’s in for the injured Ian Holland, one of three changes to the Hants line up. Somerset have made four, including a debut for Kiwi left-arm paceman Neil Wagner.

The 37-year-old has not played a competitive match since March but has bowled with good rhythm and, as is his trademark, a couple of short balls too.

Another exocet off the bat of Emilio Gay finds the fence, he has six fours in his 28, and Northants have passed 50.

Sam Whiteman has 20 at the other end after four boundaries of his own.

Dropped catchpublished at 11:36 British Summer Time 3 September 2023

11:36 BST 3 September 2023

Durham v Sussex 53-0

Bas De Leede finds the edge of Tom Clark's bat but, despite flinging himself low to his left, Ollie Robinson can't hold on. A sharp chance but one a keeper of Robinson's calibre would normally take.

Clark has 23 and Tom Haines has 22 after bringing up the 50 partnership with a four a couple of deliveries later.

They have been in no real rush but Sussex have got there in the 15th over.

Jamie Smith is seen by many as a future England cricketer.

He drives at a wide ball by Ed Barnard and is fortunate that a thick edge runs away past the slips for four.

Nothing wrong with the next one, though, as he puts it away through mid-on with aplomb.

Two balls later, a similar-length delivery is met by a stylish cover drive and all of a sudden, Smith is 16 not out. Dom Sibley has five from 32 balls at the other end.

Something of a surprise to see spin inside the first hour of a County Championship game!

Somerset have introduced 19-year-old twirler Shoaib Bashir and his first over is a promising one, beating Toby Albert with a couple of deliveries and conceding just a single.

Neil Wagner is steaming in from the other end, finding some movement away from the left-handed Nick Gubbins, but no further inroads for Somerset just yet.

Emilio Gay is definitely one for the purists. Another picture perfect drive finds the rope at long off, holding the pose, elbow high. Lovely stuff.

Five fours for him. He's onto 23. Why run when you can do that, I guess?

Gloucestershire have lost their first wicket at Grace Road with Ben Charlesworth bowled for 32 by Tom Scriven - a fine delivery which jags back and clips the top of the stumps.

Ollie Price has joined Chris Dent and the visitors are 49-1 in the 14th over.

Adam Lyth is picking up the pace for Yorkshire at Scarborough and a boundary at the start of Anuj Dal's latest over has taken him to 27 not out in their 37-0 against Derbyshire.

First change by Warwickshire as Oliver Hannon-Dalby takes a breather following a four-over burst.

One-Day Cup batting star Ed Barnard is handed the ball and after five dot balls, Ryan Patel tucks his final delivery away and picks up three runs.

Sam Whiteman is joining the boundary party. He cracks Will Williams through the covers for four and two balls later clips a leg-side delivery to the rope through fine leg.

Whiteman collects 11 from the over but Emilio Gay finishes it off by inside edging across his own stumps.

Six fine boundaries in the 35 runs across the opening 11 overs, but plenty of heart-in-mouth moments for the hosts too. Good fare.

Three fours in the latest Wiaan Mulder over for Ben Charlesworth, who is 31 not out in Gloucestershire's 45-0 after 10 against Leicestershire at Grace Road.

Yorkshire still having to take it steady at Scarborough and are 20-0 after 10, with Adam Lyth 12 not out and Finlay Bean on eight.

No further alarms for Worcestershire since the loss of Jake Libby, with Gareth Roderick and Azhar Ali progressing to 26-1 after the first 10 overs.

Azhar took a while to get off the mark, but he's now scored three runs, with Roderick on 17.

Four slips in place for Ryan Patel but OHD overpitches and an elegant cover drive brings the Surrey batter four runs.

Early bowling switch as Bas de Leede has replaced Ben Raine after four overs at the Riverside.

Sussex's Tom Tom opening partnership of Clark and Haines have navigated the opening eight overs and guided the visitors to 20-0.

Another sumptuous drive through the covers for four from Emilio Gay and he's onto 14 from 26 deliveries.

Remarkable that the 23-year-old managed only 74 runs in seven ODC knocks since his last red-ball outing.

Nick Gubbins is up and running with a couple of off-side boundaries off Jack Brooks and he's 10 not out, while Toby Albert has two to his name.

Lewis Gregory continues to find plenty of movement against the right-hander and his first three overs have cost him just two.

Somerset also have New Zealand left-armer Neil Wagner in their line-up, making his debut for the county, so no doubt we'll see him taking the ball at some stage this morning.