Nine games to start the final month of the 2026 County Championship
D1: Essex v Sussex, Hants v Warks, Notts v Leics, Somerset v Glamorgan, Surrey v Yorks
D2: Glos v Derbys, Kent v Worcs, Middx v Lancs, Northants v Durham
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Surrey v Yorkshire - Delayed start
Still raining at The Oval where they got as far as the toss with a view to an 11 O'Clock start before the weather intervened again.
When they do get underway Yorkshire will be batting after Surrey put them in.
Kent 50-2 v Worcestershire
Tawanda Muyeye gets a life.
Big drive at Matthew Waite and it flashes to second slip.
It goes stright in the bed bin of Adam Hose....and out again.
It was a brave shot on this pitch but Muyeye has got away with it.
Tribe c Rew b Pretorius (Somerset v Glam 33-1)
This time the edge from Asa Tribe does carry!
Full length from Migael Pretorius, angled in towards off stump. Tribe gets in a little bit of a tangle and doesn’t commit with his footwork.
He gets a healthy edge low to the wicketkeeper’s right and James Rew dives across to take it one-handed. Fine grab.
Young c Brown b Currie (Warks 14-1 v Hants)
Will Young had better Leave Right Now.
It's a great delivery from Scott Currie which Young has to play at. It's edged to Ben Brown behind the stumps.
It's been a struggle for Young in his latest spell at Warwickshire so far.
Kent 48-2 v Worcestershire
Image source, Getty ImagesAfter early mess of 18-2 and both openers out, Kent have rallied well.
Sam Northeast (21) and Tawanda Muyeye (10) have dug in, stayed tight and done well to dull the edge of Ben Allison and Tom Taylor.
They've seen the Worcestershire's openers off and are now being watchful against Messers Waite and Swanepoel.
The sun's poking its watery face out too.
Good sign for Kent maybe after all the early ball talking.
Northamptonshire v Durham
Durham have won the flip and CHOSE TO BAT.
Brave?
We'll soon find out.
Essex v Sussex 23-2
Sussex trying to move forward after the loss of two quick wickets.
Daniel Hughes supremely drives Sam Cook past extra cover for four and then slaps a short-wide one from Charlie Bennett to the point fence.
Somerset v Glam 21-0
Glamorgan have been sent in but it’s a strong start.
Mason Crane, again filling in as opener as he did in the second innings last week, has pushed Craig Overton smartly backward of point to the boundary.
But Asa Tribe edges Lewis Gregory just past fourth slip to the third man fence.
Did it carry to the fielder diving forward? Very tough chance if it did.
Northamptonshire v Durham
Hoping we might get a fifth match finally underway.
At the County Ground there was an inspection after early rain at 11:00 BST and we're waiting to hear when play might start.
Huge game this - Northants want to be the ones to go up with leaders Durham, who don't have Brydon Carse in the their side today because of "pre-arranged workload management with ECB".
New contract boy Matthew Potts is in as is BS.
Northants unchanged.
Hants v Warks 8-0
It's been a watchful start by Warwickshire but they have their first boundary in the fifth over.
Rob Yates opens the face of his bat and runs it down to the backward point boundary.
Hants v Warks 2-0
Kyle Abbott almost has his 50th wicket of the season as Rob Yates edges towards third slip.
The ball doesn't quite carry.
Kent 28-2 v Worcestershire
Image source, ShutterstockAfter claiming a career-best 5-19 against Gloucestershire in Cheltenham last week, Ben Allison is carrying on with that hot streak at Caterbury.
To be accurate, given the dampness in Kent this morning, it's far from 'hot' but mighty skillful nonetheless.
He's already seen off Zak Crawley and has 1-15 from his four overs so far.
Eight of his first nine runs came through third man, which tells you everything about the conditions and how tough they are for batting.
To be honest, Kent have done very well to only lose two wickets.
Allison's angle, height and pace - on this green pitch - are a nightmare.
Hampshire v Warwickshire 0-0
After a bit more light rain it's cleared up at Southampton and play gets underway at 11.05 meaning just a couple of overs are lost.
Hampshire have won the toss and put Warwickshire in. Three changes to the Bears side from the game against Notts with Chris Woakes and overseas signing Manav Suthar returning. Kai Smith keeps wicket in the absence of Alex Davies.
Hampshire make just one change from the team that were on course to beat Glamorgan before the weather intervened. Ben Mayes replaces Tom Prest.
Clark c Pepper b Cook (Essex v Sussex 7-2)
And Tom Clark follows second ball!
An identical delivery, just a touch fuller, and Clark also nicks Cook behind.
Haines c Pepper b Cook (Essex v Sussex 7-1)
The tight start from the Essex attack pays off as Sam Cook removes Tom Haines.
Superb delivery. Angled in from round the wicket, gets the left-hander to play and then moves off the pitch to take the outside edge to the wicketkeeper.
Not a lot, if anything, Haines could have done.
Surrey v Yorkshire - Rain delayed
They've had the toss at the Oval ahead of a planned 11 O'Clock start. Surrey won it and put Yorkshire in. Then it started raining again.
Both sides have named their teams.
Surrey give a county championship debut to India A bowler Auqib Nabi who replaces his compatriot Mahipal Lomror.
Yorkshire bring in India test spinner Kuldeep Yadav who played for them in the One Day cup.
Hampshire v Warwickshire - delayed start
Hampshire have pulled New Zealand all-rounder Scott Kuggeleijn out of their team after listening "to feedback from our staff and supporters".
The county had named the 34-year-old in their squad after signing him on Tuesday. The player faced a rape charge in 2015 and after a re-trial due to a hung jury he was acquitted in 2017.
In a statement released just a few minutes before the scheduled start of play Hampshire said: "We value the passion of our fanbase and thank everyone who took the time to share their views.
"Our focus now turns to supporting the team through the final four County Championship fixtures of the season."
Image source, Getty ImagesMiddx v Lancs (delayed start)
Middx won the toss and elected to bat but rain has returned and the sheets are going on to the square. In short, it does not look like they will be on any time soon. Boo.
Essex v Sussex 5-0
Tight start from the Essex opening bowlers.
Sam Cook and Shane Snater have conceded just four runs from the opening five overs.
Compton (c Cullen b Taylor 8); Kent 18-2 v Worcestershire
Both openers for Kent gone.
You've got to feel for the batters here (unless you support Worcestershire). It's not easy AT ALL.
The pitch continues to help the seamers and Tom Taylor has joined the early party.
That said, it's not one of his best balls - down the leg side and Ben Compton's brushed it through to wicketkeeper Henry Cullen who hangs on to a smart grab.