Where's that going?

Jack Davies attempts a hook off Craig Miles and top edges it on his helmet.

It loops up and lands safely.

Mention has been made in the past few days of Surrey captain Rory Burns' new haircut.

We can't comment on the style because of the big headband he is sporting at The Oval.

Image source, Rex Features

Just one from the latest Kyle Abbott over.

BBC Essex's Nick Gledhill reports that there may be one or two further rain interruptions today, with worse weather to follow tomorrow, but the final two days should be more cricket-friendly.

Will that give Essex time to try and force the win they need to maintain their title push?

Ed Barnard strays onto the pads of Jack Davies and he helps himself to his first boundary.

It's been tricky out there this morning, but he times that beautifully.

Jamie Overton injuredpublished at 11:41 British Summer Time 19 September 2023

11:41 BST 19 September 2023

Surrey v Northants 41-1

A big appeal first ball to Luke Procter, who gets another leg side ball that brushes his shirt on the way to keeper Ben Foakes. Not out.

Wicket maiden for Jordan Clark.

Jamie Overton offers a bit of width outside off and Hassan Azad strokes the ball behind point off the back foot for four.

The fifth ball is full on leg stump and clipped away behind square for four more.

Hmm. Jamie Overton pulls out of his latest delivery and seems to be feeling a twinge of pain either in his right hip or top of his right thigh.

He's heading off the field after bowling 17 deliveries.

Rory Burns will complete the over. One ball remaining.

Image source, Rex Features

Joe Cracknell plays his first real shot in anger and it brings the third Middlesex boundary of the morning - and the first in 63 balls.

Craig Miles offers up some rare width and Cracknell flashes it through the covers to the rope.

A little relief at last. The openers will also be relieved to see the back of Oliver Hannon-Dalby whose opening spell is done. Ed Barnard comes on to replace him.

Oliver Hannon-Dalby is in a super rhythm and appeals once more as he swings one into the pads of left-hander Jack Davies.

But it's doing too much this time and would have missed leg stump.

Image source, Rex Features

First change of the morning by Hampshire as Kyle Abbott replaces Keith Barker, whose initial six-over spell brought him figures of 1-5.

Abbott drops short with his second delivery and Tom Westley thumps it away for four - the fifth of his innings so far.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

"This is a proper test of your technique at the moment.

The Surrey bowlers are just probing away."

Emilio Gay gets a thick edge driving at Kemar Roach and the ball squirts away safely to backward point.

The Northants opening batter rehearses the stroke.

The bowler beats Gay outside off with his last ball and must be wondering what more he needs to do to get a wicket.

Jamie Overton is bowing a testing line on off stump to Hassan Azad, angling the ball across the stumps with good pace.

The fifth ball is stroked away with a short arm jab behind point for four. Great shot, played late and using the pace of the ball.

There's that straight drive again from Tom Westley as he collects another boundary at the start of Mo Abbas' latest over.

His shirt billowing behind him in the wind, Westley square cuts two balls later, but has to settle for three as Nick Gubbins picks up just inside the rope.

Image source, Rex Features

Better news from the Uptonsteel County Ground where the umpires have scheduled a 12:55 start in Leicestershire's home game against Yorkshire, unless there is further rain.

No such luck at New Road or Derby, though, where the waiting goes on.

Oliver Hannon-Dalby beats the bat for the 900th time this morning (perhaps a slight exaggeration).

Joe Cracknell's shot was nondescript to say the least and he almost feathers behind another beauty from the Warwickshire seamer.

Craig Miles now comes into the attack as Chris Rushworth takes a breather.

Tom Westley has latched onto anything loose so far this morning. But a single off Mohammad Abbas is all that is needed to take him to 1,000 Championship runs for 2024.

He's only the third batter in Division One to reach four figures, following James Rew and Josh Bohannon.

Clive Eakin
BBC CWR Sport

The wind is whistling through the windows on the top floor of the famous media centre at Lords.

Such is it's strength the floodlight pylons can't be raised so we're playing in fairly gloomy conditions. A few concerned eyebrows have been raised at the sight of window cleaners abseiling down a tall building overlooking the ground.

Warwickshire will feel under pressure to make full use of the wild conditions so they'll have been relieved to see Chris Rushworth and Olly Hannon-Dalby both take a step closer to their 50th Championship wicket of the season by removing Mark Stoneman and Sam Robson.

Palpable tension here at the Oval, as both the opening Surrey bowlers have beaten the opening Northants batters with bounce and movement outside off stump.

But no wickets for the host team yet.

Emilio Gay moves to 16 with a flick down to square leg for one off Kemar Roach.

A single to Hassan Azad off the last ball to keep the strike.

We have our first bowling change - and Jamie Overton is coming on for Dan Worrall at the Vauxhall End.

Overton's third ball is carved away through cover by Azad for two runs.

A vociferous appeal from Oliver Hannon-Dalby and the slip cordon as he pins Sam Robson in front.

But it's optimistic and is duly turned down.

He's causing plenty of problems here this morning and beats the edge once more.

Robson plays out a maiden. Just about.