Image source, Rex Features

We have runs!

Following 17 dots after the break, Josh de Caires gets the scoreboard ticking with the shot of the day so far.

A superb straight drive down the groudn as Ed Barnard overpitches slightly. De Caires moves into double figures.

Clive Eakin
BBC CWR Sport

Warwickshire took full advantage of the conditions in a grey morning session to get on top of the game.

It's been a team effort from all four bowlers used with the first four wickets being shared evenly.

Ed Barnard has probably been the pick of a decent bunch and he was the first to take a second wicket, dismissing John Simpson just before lunch.

Simpson left the field shaking his head perhaps reflecting that he was the only batter to get out to a really loose shot.

Oliver Hannon-Dalby gets things going from the pavilion end.

Fewer scares for Joe Cracknell to deal with, but it's a fourth maiden from seven overs for OHD.

He was a massive threat before lunch.

Maiden over from Dan Worrall, who gets movement and bounce outside off stump.

Kemar Roach will bowl from the Pavilion End.

His first ball is leg side and that's a good diving stop by keeper Ben Foakes.

Karun Nair is across his stumps to a very full length third ball, trying to push it into the on side, but the batter can't clear the in field.

Close! The last ball just misses the edge of Nair's bat, squaring him up on the crease, and bouncing just over the stumps.

Successive maidens for Surrey and early alarms for Northants.

Image source, Rex Features

Leicestershire have won a belated toss and put Yorkshire in.

Colin Ackermann is ill, so the Foxes bring One-Day Cup final heroes Harry Swindells and Sam Evans into their side, along with Louis Kimber and Will Davis.

Ben Mike is in the Yorkshire team against his former team.

Play will start at 13:40, with 64 overs to be bowled.

Ed Barnard opens up after lunch and he starts the new session as he ended the last.

A beautiful outswinger beats the outside edge of Josh de Caires.

The batter then very nearly plays on as the ball drops safely at his feet.

A fourth maiden from seven overs for Barnard. No looseners and right on the money.

A further shower is expected this afternoon at the Cloud County ground but we won't dwell on that prospect as the teams are back out in the middle.

Mohammad Abbas has the ball and Dan Lawrence puts his second delivery away square for four, progressing to 23 not out.

Just two wickets for Surrey in the opening session of play, but it could so easily have been three had Jamie Overton held a chance at second slip when Karun Nair edged Dan Worrall just before lunch.

Nair resumes on 15 with opener Hassan Azad, who is 25 not out and facing Worrall, no doubt hoping for a bit more luck this afternoon.

Kent begin this round in ninth place on 93 points, just two behind eighth-placed Middlesex.

They came close to toppling Notts at Canterbury in the last round, but lost early wickets in a tough last day run chase and had to settle for a draw.

Now they need to pick up points against sixth-placed Somerset, who they have not beaten at Taunton since 1978 - when a young Chris Tavare scored a first-innings 105 and spinner Derek Underwood took 5-74 in the second innings.

Kent are without Zak Crawley in this round, but the batting remains strong and they have plenty of options in their bowling attack, including the spin of Aron Nijjar and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Somerset boast the leading run-scorer in the division in keeper-batter James Rew, and their squad also includes Tom Lammonby, all rounder Lewis Gregory and seam bowler Jack Brooks,.

The forecast earlier was for showers from four o'clock onwards. Let's hope that proves wide of the mark.

The umpires have decided there will be no action in Manchester today following rain overnight and again this morning.

Lancashire are fifth in the table and in no danger of relegation, but Notts still need points to make certain of their place in Division One for next season.

They'll try again tomorrow.

Weather permitting, of course.

The toss will be at 1.15.

63 overs left in the day's play.

We mentioned earlier that Middlesex's Tim Murtagh will retire at the end of the season.

Another experienced seamer who will be leaving his current employer will be Somerset's Jack Brooks who, even if he didn't manage to play international cricket like Murtagh, has always been great fun to watch.

We don't know if the 'Headband Warrior' wants to find another county for 2024, but wish him well whatever his decision.

Nick Gledhill
BBC Essex commentator

Essex have settled after a difficult start in overcast and windy conditions. Alastair Cook got an excellent delivery from Mohammed Abbas in his opening over and Keith Barker’s probing spell eventually found Nick Browne’s outside edge.

From 18-2, Tom Westley and Dan Lawrence have rebuilt. Westley has looked the more fluent and has passed 1,000 runs for the second time in his career.

Unlike the first occasion in 2016, a spell in the Test side probably won’t be on the cards this time. Lawrence, of course, still hopes to achieve just that and will be looking to sign off his Essex career at Chelmsford in style.

Both sides wanted to bat on a used pitch. Not surprisingly Liam Dawson has had an early spell. Hampshire are also playing Felix Organ in the hope of countering Simon Harmer as the game goes on.

Surrey have picked up a couple of Northants wickets this morning, one of them caught by England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes.

He's one of three players who signed new contracts with the club yesterday. Here are the full details.

They were hoping to start play between Leicestershire and Yorkshire at 12:55 - but it will now be a little later than that as the toss has now been scheduled for that time.

No play this morning at Worcester or Derby - but an inspection will take place at New Road at 13:00.

Division One

Essex 69-2 v Hampshire

Lancashire v Nottinghamshire - no play before lunch

Middlesex 65-5 v Warwickshire

Somerset v Kent - no play before lunch

Surrey v Northamptonshire 72-2

Division Two

Derbyshire v Sussex - no play before lunch

Leicestershire v Yorkshire - play due to start at 12:55

Worcestershire v Durham - no play before lunch

Josh de Caires produces a lovely back-foot punch for four off Chris Rushworth and then takes three before lunch is called.

It's been a torrid morning for Middlesex after being sent in under gloomy, overcast skies.

The Middlesex openers made a decent start, moving to 20-0, but Warwickshire’s attack has exploited the seam-friendly conditions superbly and soon took control.

Chris Rushworth removed Mark Stoneman (13), and Sam Robson (6) fell two runs later to the superb Oliver Hannon-Dalby.

Jack Davies (11) and Ryan Higgins (7) then both lost their off-stump before John Simpson slashed and burned for a 14-ball duck to give Ed Barnard a second victim.

Image source, Rex Features

A satisfactory morning for Essex following the shock of Alastair Cook's third-ball dismissal - his third nought in this season's Championship.

Nick Browne also fell to the new ball, but Tom Westley has batted with some assurance to reach 46 not out at the interval.

He has put on 51 with Dan Lawrence, the half century partnership brought up with the second of three singles in Felix Organ's final over before the interval.

The home side need a big total here to secure as many batting points as possible, having started their penultimate game 18 behind Division One leaders Surrey.

Medium pacer Ryan Patel will bowl the last over before lunch.

Karun Nair picks up four more with a lovely straight drive off the fourth ball.

His last ball swings late and Hassan Azad gets an inside edge that falls safely behind the stumps.

A satisfying session for both sides, really.

Northants lose only two wickets in a tough session of play where the ball offered bounce, swing and seam for the hosts.

Surrey have stemmed the flow of runs though and will fully expect more chances after the break.

Chris Rushworth comes back for a couple before lunch.

Joe Cracknell takes a single before Josh de Caires - the latest of the Middlesex procession of batters - sees out the rest without alarm.

Rushworth needs four more wickets to reach 50 for the season.

Ed Barnard to continue and produces a lifting delivery which jags away from Cracknell. In the end he does well to avoid getting an edge to it.

Another jaffa beats the edge. And again. He is getting some lovely movement down the hill. Maiden