Big shout for LBW against Jake Libby from seemingly all the Warwickshire fielders - bar the bowler Chris Rushworth.

A bit of late swing missing the timbers, perhaps. Maiden over.

Just a single off OHD at the other end.

Image source, Rex Features

Excellent news, dear friends!

After a pitch inspection at Trent Bridge, the toss will take place at 11:30 BST, with play to begin, weather permitting, half an hour later at midday.

That should be an intriguing game between hosts Notts and last year's runners-up Essex.

Billy Root's been promoted to open for Glamorgan today, but he might need to be a bit more reticent when he's chasing wide deliveries.

The left-hander's had a couple of thrashes outside off stump when he needn't have done, but he registers the visitors' first boundary of the season, drilling Ethan Bamber to the cover fence.

Bamber has begun to find a more consistent line in his last over, however no real alarms yet for the Glamorgan opening pair.

The sun is out, but there is plenty of work to do to rid the outfield of water at Canterbury.

Image source, Liam Knight

Three and easy so far for Glamorgan - a trio of runs come from yet another off-side drive by Billy Root off Ethan Bamber.

It probably should have been the first boundary of the innings, but Henry Brookes, diving at mid-off, did enough to prevent the ball from reaching the rope.

The outfield is decidedly boggy out there as the Pears openers knock the ball around.

Michael Burgess is up to the stumps for OHD's second over and we're already down to two slips.

This could be a bit of a grind for both sides.

Frustration for Warwickshire, as Roderick flashes at a loose, slightly short ball and gets an under edge past the keeper for four.

All-rounder Ryan Higgins gets to share the new ball with Ethan Bamber and his first over, from the Pavilion End, is a tidier one with just a single conceded to Billy Root.

Root has four to his name, with opening partner Zain ul Hassan registering the other three.

Andrew Radd
BBC Radio Northampton

Much more encouraging here at Hove - inspection at 12.30 BST and optimism that we might get some cricket this afternoon.

Certainly Northamptonshire seamer Ben Sanderson will hope so. Sussex have been one of his favourite teams to bowl against with 38 wickets at 13.92 in past Championship meetings.

Image source, Andrew Radd

It is 2,751 days since Durham last played in Division One of the County Championship - coincidentally against Hampshire.

But their return to the top flight has been delayed by the elements in Chester-le-Street.

The umpires staged an inspection at 10.30am and will have another look at 12.30pm.

It is breezy but not too cold. However, so much rain has fallen in recent weeks the ground remains soft. We also had a storm during the night.

So for now, it is a waiting game but there won't be any play this morning.

Image source, BBC Sport

OHD starts with a loose leg side delivery, clipped away behind square for four.

Well, we've all been there. Especially this early on in the season.

There's some good pace and carry for Warwickshire keeper, Michael Burgess but the radar isn't quite there as the Pears openers take six more singles between them, taking a total of ten off the opening over.

Chris Rushworth will bowl next.

We're off at Lord's - and it really feels like a new era, with no Tim Murtagh to open the bowling for Middlesex following his retirement at the end of last season.

Ethan Bamber is the man handed that responsibility for Middlesex and it's a slightly loose start, with both Zain ul Hassan and Billy Root taking advantage of balls outside off stump to pick up three apiece.

The umpires have had a look once already this morning and they'll check the pitch again at 11.30.

Yorkshire have England batter Harry Brook among their ranks for this opening game against Leicestershire - who surprised a few in 2023 and pulled off a memorable run chase on this ground early last season.

In addition to Jason Holder, the Pears have a second overseas player on debut today in New Zealand bowler Nathan Smith.

Worcester's Gareth Roderick, opening with Jake Libby, will face Oliver Hannon-Dalby to start.

Fortunately, you can usually rely on the Lord's groundstaff to mop up swiftly and play will start on time in the Division Two fixture between Middlesex and Glamorgan.

The home side, who have winter signing Henry Brookes from Warwickshire as one of their four frontline seamers, have won the toss and will bowl first. Former Derbyshire batter Leus du Plooy also makes his Middlesex debut.

There are two new faces for Glamorgan as well, although they'll hope we won't see too much of either of them for a while yet today - both are bowlers! Pakistan left-armer Mir Hamza and Craig Miles, on loan from Warwickshire, are the duo in question.

Hopefully the class and experience of former Windies skipper and all-rounder won't be needed too early into day one as he's earmarked to come in at number seven.

He'll be available to play the first five Championship rounds.

Jake Libby will start the innings with Gareth Roderick.

Brett D'Oliveira of course will captain.

Chris Rushworth and Oliver Hannon-Dalby will lead the bowling attack for the hosts.

The good news is that it's currently dry.

The bad news is the deluge of overnight rain and rather damp conditions.

Fingers and toes crossed for what could and should be a great contest, likely to feature leading Division Two run scorer Alex Lees and leading wicket taker in the division, Ben Raine.

When weather permits, last year's Division Two champions will face one of the best top flight bowling attacks in the country, probably including Mohammad Abbas, Kyle Abbott and Keith Barker.

Delayed start at Old Traffordpublished at 10:46 British Summer Time 5 April 2024

10:46 BST 5 April 2024

Lancashire v Surrey

Image source, Rex Features

Much of the pre-season chat has focused on whether defending champions Surrey can achieve a feat that has not been managed since the 1960s and win a hat-trick of County Championship titles.

We'll have to wait a little longer to see how last year's winners shape up this time around, with the recent weather in Manchester meaning a delayed start to their opening game against Lancashire.

The Red Rose could field their two new overseas signings - Australia spinner Nathan Lyon and New Zealand batter Tom Bruce - while Surrey have current England duo Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes available as part of a strong squad.

It's stopped raining at Trent Bridge and the umpires will take a look at the pitch at 11am to decide when Nottinghamshire and Essex can get cracking.

Notts have former Worcestershire pair Dillon Pennington and Jack Haynes champing at the bit to make their debuts, while Essex could potentially field two new faces as well.

Former South Africa opener Dean Elgar is in the visitors' squad, along with batter/wicketkeeper Jordan Cox, who made the switch from Kent at the end of last season.

No rain delays here - so far. We're expecting to start on time.

This will be a good early season test for the newly promoted Pears, who will be keen to dispense with the habit of going up and down the divisions with frustrating regularity.

Team news shortly.

We had a lot of overnight rain here in the West Midlands too. But the overheads are promising - blue skies and fluffy white clouds.

Newly promoted Worcestershire have a new-look squad, with Ethan Brookes, Rob Jones and Tom Taylor coming in for the departed Jack Haynes, Josh Tongue and Dillon Pennington to Notts.

Can they stay up this time?

Warwickshire finished a very respectable 4th in the last campaign, but will hope for a few more runs this season - after Sam Hain was their only batter to pass 700 in 2023.

Their bowling remains very strong with Chris Rushworth and Oliver Hannon-Dalby in the squad. They took over 100 wickets between them last summer.