Yorkshire v Surrey, Sussex v Essex, and more: county cricket day one - live

15m ago 06.58 EDT With a reminder (thank you) from BTL that this is a Kookaburra round, a potter round the other Division Two games. Sam Robson and Max Holden have serenely taken Middlesex to 36-0 against Northants at Merchant Taylors’; Rehan Ahmed and Lewis Hill are making merry after Leicestershire’s disastrous start, Leics 44-2; and Kent are fizzing along at five an over against Glamorgan, though they’ve lost Compton for 17. Kent 61-1. Share

26m ago 06.47 EDT Currently battling with a parasol to protect laptops from the mizzle. Share

35m ago 06.38 EDT Pleasingly enthusiastic applause as Wells edges behind off Akhter. Lancs 28-1. Share Updated at 06.38 EDT

44m ago 06.29 EDT There is, I’m afraid to report, some rain in the air here in Cheltenham. De Lange went off after a couple of overs and is, I think, still nursing something or other. Seagulls drifting about, a few pints making their way around the boundary edge. Lancashire 23-0. Share

1h ago 06.13 EDT Leicestershire’s romp to Division One has hit further tacks in the road – currently one for two, with Budinger and Patel both gone for ducks. Share

1h ago 06.03 EDT And from the College Hall end, Ajeet Singh Dale, who was so impressive at Old Trafford earlier this season. Rumours are that he is soon headed to south London, though Lancashire were also interested. Share

1h ago 06.02 EDT A very enthusiastic tannoy announcer jollies up the crowd before play – and if you’re thinking of coming along, bring your bank card as it is a cash-free ground. And here come Gloucestershire, lead by Cameron Bancroft. Marchant de Lange takes the first over from the Chapel End – we were watching him in warm-up, he’s built like a rugby player, all tree-trunk legs and oak-table chest. Rapid too, as Jennings edges him through the slips for four. Share

1h ago 05.45 EDT Looking out from the balcony at a barley sugar outfield, the clouds towering over Cleeve hill. Jimmy Anderson, still captain despite Marcus Harris’ return, has won the toss and decided to bat. Overheard in the queue, Jimmy is the first knight of the realm ever to play at Cheltenham. Share

2h ago 05.00 EDT The future of the County Championship Part XXXXV…the votes are (starting to come) in: Surrey and Somerset have announced that they want 14 Championship games, with a return to eight teams in Division One and 10 in Division Two; Middlesex also want 14, but with ten teams in the top tier, while Durham and Lancashire support the 12/6 conference idea. The PCA, meanwhile, have put their weight behind the conference plan and a reduction in the number of games to 12, alongside a reduced Blast schedule. “A change in format of the County Championship to 12 league games is the only reasonable option” said Olly Hannon-Dalby, PCA chair, breathing “new life” into the competition. Share

2h ago 05.00 EDT Fixtures DIVISION ONE Southampton: Hampshire v Nottinghamshire Taunton: Somerset v Durham Hove: Sussex v Essex Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire Scarborough: Yorkshire v Surrey DIVISION TWO Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Kent Cheltenham: Gloucestershire v Lancashire Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex v Northamptonshire Share

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