Frank Watson
BBC Hereford & Worcester

The rain has stopped here and we're now hopeful of play.

Umpires Richard Illingworth and Mike Burns are planning to inspect the pitch at 11:20.

I reckon we'll get under way by 12:00 which is extraordinary, given the conditions this morning.

Things are brightening up here at Chester Road.

Image source, Rex Features

Six short of a century on his recall to the Essex side… it might have been a restless night for Nick Browne ahead of day three against Durham at Chester-le-Street.

Left-hander Browne, omitted from the line-up for Essex’s first three games of the season, shared a third-wicket partnership of 166 with Feroze Khushi to propel the visitors into a strong position at 314-3, just 44 behind Durham’s first-innings total.

He reached stumps at 94 not out, looking to follow the lead of Khushi - who hit 107 before he was dismissed by Callum Parkinson, one of only three wickets to fall during the second day.

Khushi, whose hundred was the second of his first-class career, told BBC Essex: "I enjoyed batting with Browney. He just calms you down, keeps you level.

"I'm delighted for him as well to be back in the runs - I said it was just like he'd never been away. We're in a good position now so just need to make the most of it."

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle in Chester-le-Street

It's miserable, wet and cold in Chester-le-Street and the prospects of play today are not good.

The Met Office app suggests the rain won't disappear until about 16:00 BST. My thoughts are we are in early lunch territory and might be heading home without a ball bowled come mid-afternoon.

The Netweather app, which has all of the county grounds listed, says the rain won't disappear until at least 15:00.

However, others in the ground may be looking at a different weather app to me, because some of them feel we will actually see some play after 14:00.

Whatever the outcome, Essex's Nick Browne is going to have to wait to try to complete his century. He is on 94.

A glimmer of light amidst the gloom... the covers are off at Nevil Road and umpires Neil Pratt and Surendiran Shanmugam are due to take a look at the pitch at 11.30 BST.

Fingers crossed, they'll take a positive view...

Gloucestershire will be keen to get out there again, holding a very handy lead of 68 over Middlesex with four of their first-innings wickets still intact.

Image source, Rex Features

It was early on day two at Edgbaston when Nottinghamshire opener Ben Duckett added the three runs he needed to reach his double century.

And he added just 21 to his overnight score before being out reverse sweeping occasional Bears spinner Dan Mousley for 218. But the England man said: "It's my best innings for Nottinghamshire.

"I have been a bit frustrated in the first couple of games because generally in my career what I've tried to do is, when I get in, make it as big as possible," he told BBC Radio Nottingham. "This was pleasing because it put the team in a good position.

"I have felt good for the last 18 months and have found a game that works for me. I have worked with Peter Moores and tweaked a few things.

"Even a couple of days out from this game I didn't feel like I was hitting the ball great but then I had a good net before and thankfully got myself into a position where the sweepers were out and they were not so much trying to get me out as trying to get me off strike."

All bodes well for England when Test cricket resumes in July against the West Indies at Lord's.

During the meanwhile, given the weather looks being more fun for ducks than Ducketts, he may have some time on his hands this morning as the weather forecast looks none too clever at Edgbaston.

Image source, Rex Features

Hampshire coach Adrian Birrell has urged his players to "fight like hell" as they face up to the prospect of defeat inside three days against Surrey at The Oval - weather permitting.

The visitors limped to 31-2 in their second innings, still adrift by 187 runs after centuries from Rory Burns and Jordan Clark enabled Surrey to post 359 on day two.

"We're really behind," Birrell admitted. "I don't think we bowled terribly, we kept beating the bat without getting any rewards but they batted well.

"We got a bit frustrated and started searching for wickets a bit. We've got to fight like hell over the next couple of days to get into this match."

Hampshire lost both openers on the second evening, with Dan Worrall and Kemar Roach claiming a wicket apiece as Surrey seek to wrap up their second successive victory of the season.

Captain James Vince and Nick Gubbins will be looking to marshal a Hampshire fightback when play resumes.

Division One:

Chester-le-Street: Durham 358, Essex 314-3 (Start delayed)

The Oval: Hampshire 151 & 31-2, Surrey 359 (No play on day three before lunch)

Edgbaston: Notts 400, Warwickshire 71-3. (Start delayed)

Kidderminster: Somerset 309-9 dec, Worcestershire 107-1 (Start delayed)

Division Two:

Bristol: Middlesex 203, Gloucestershire 271-6 (Start delayed)

Leicester: Northants 453-7 dec, Leicestershire 97-2 (Day Three abandoned)

Headingley: Yorkshire 450-5 dec, Derbyshire 190-3 (Start delayed)

Image source, Richard Rae

As the picture above from BBC Radio Leicester's Richard Rae shows, it's a bit wet at Grace Road.

Unsurprisingly given the amount of surface water on the outfield, play on Sunday has already been abandoned.

Today's BBC weather forecast does at least offer a little more hope for later.

"Rain moving northwards across eastern areas and clearing later. Drier and brighter in the west."

Encouraging news for Bristol in particular then. And also in the West Midlands, where whatever they get at Edgbaston will be much the same just 16 miles away in Kidderminster, where Worcestershire are currently ensconced while the now seemingly doomed New Road dries out.

Image source, Rex Features

Good morning and welcome back to day three of this week's County Championship coverage.

But, in reality, there's not much good about it as there is 'weather' everywhere.

And day three of the Division Two game between Leicestershire and Northants was called off by umpires Jack Shantry and Ben Debenham because of flooding long before play was due to start.

The forecast does not look too bright elsewhere either.

But we shall what the Weather Gods have in store for us over the next few hours.