Key events
Your first wicket of the season: Ethan Bamber on the money for Middlesex, where Billy Root has already hit four fours in his 28 not out.
Ethan Bamber has the first wicket of the 2024 season
An over of probing line and length eventually does for Zain-ul-Hassan pic.twitter.com/210quRvfhe
— Vitality County Championship (@CountyChamp) April 5, 2024
Down at Hove, where there will be no play before lunch, Matt Prior gave new signing John Simpson his county cap this morning.
1️⃣5️⃣8️⃣ – John Simpson
Ahead of today’s season-opener, County Championship captain @JohnSimpson_88 has been presented with his County Cap by @MattPrior13! 🧢
Congratulations, Simmo! 👏 #GOSBTS
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 5, 2024
And another email lands with a thud. “Good Morning Tanya, this is Sarthak Chugh all the way over from Mumbai, India. I have been (a little too eagerly) waiting for the start of the County Championship however just like the skies over in your country, my mood has been dampened with the continuous “Match has been delayed” messages filling up my phone.
Not to brag, and it is not a pleasant feeling at all, but the weather right now in Mumbai is teetering on the 40 degree scale. Seems like we are on vastly contrasting unplayable levels here.
”Having moaned about this, the first bowl is about to be bowled at Lord’s and my mood has improved significantly. I hope I haven’t jinxed it. Regardless, a very Happy New Championship Day to you and the team.”
Well thank you Sarthak! And please do feel free to join in with the chat below the line, new commentators always welcome. At Old Trafford the covers are resolutely on, the flag is dancing a merry dance above the Hilton Hotel and a scattering of loyal fans are sitting in the stands.
”Morning,” Hello Tom v c Gucht.! “I got the train to Leeds this morning before heading over down the Aire Valley to plant some trees on rewilded farmland in memory of my dad. My meteorological and geological insights suggest it’s muggy, overcast, blustery with a very high water-table and generally saturated underfoot turf. Obviously l, the groundstaff probably have better drainage facilities than moorland on Kildwick, but you get the picture.” I hope the tree planting goes well, what a lovely idea.
I see Billy Root is opening for Glamorgan. No wickets lost yet at Lord’s:Glamorgan 16-0 against Bamber and Higgins.
Chris Rushworth beating the bat at Edgbaston, while Ollie Hannon-Dalby struggling a bit with his run-up in the gusts of wind. Worcs a heady 24-0 off three and a half overs.
Some news from Derby, where play was called off at 10am. In the words of the reporters network reporter, “the ground is so wet after weeks of rain that the prospects of the Division Two fixture starting on time on day two already look slim.”
Play at two grounds: Lord’s and Edgbaston
Where Middlesex have won the toss and chosen to bowl, as have Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Freddie Lynch writes in “Welcome to the new season! Toss news from Edgbaston particularly interesting – Sam Hain missing out due to personal reasons makes Warwickshire’s XI look quite a lot weaker. With no Woakes around either, could be a tricky start to the season for the Bears…” Jason Holder makes his Worcestershire debut.
Livestream links
Thanks for the nudge Richard McKeary. All the games will be covered by BBC local radio and links to the livestreams either through the ECB or county websites.
A couple of emails have dropped. Good morning, Guy Hornsby:
“Sadly the sun in south Manchester is hiding now but I hope the drizzle stops for us all soon. I’m taking my 6 year-old daughter to her first County Championship game today, even if it’s looking dicey for seeing any cricket. We’ve got a packed lunch and cricket bat and ball, what more do you need!”
A nice covered walkway just past the media centre is good for some cricket if the skies open – hope she enjoys it!
And hello Phil Withall! “Welcome back! A new season, a new hope, a new underwhelming weather situation. I hope there is enough off field content to keep you occupied…. If it’s any consolation it’s raining in Queensland too…” I’m about to go and investigate the brownies….
Rain delays also at Canterbury and Trent Bridge
No play before lunch at Canterbury, tbc at Trent Bridge
which leaves us, I think, with play at Durham, Edgbaston, Lord’s and Headingley.
Inspection at 10.30 at Headingley. Feeling particularly sorry for Gloucestershire, whose last season was rain-ruined, and who have already been rained off at Derby for the day and whose chances of hosting their first home game against Yorkshire next week are already looking precarious.
The Cricketer/Times’ Paul Edwards has given me a new season present, a copy of Ben and Imo by Mark Ravenhill, which he rates as a must-go-to play at Stratford, if you live anywhere near. But it only runs until tomorrow so you haven’t got long. In return I’ve given him a hot-cross bun from local deli Barbakan.
No play before lunch at Hove and off for the day at Derby
Wet, wet, wet….
No play before lunch at Old Trafford
Have arrived at Old Trafford to find the covers on and no play before lunch.
Fixtures – Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire v Gloucestershire
Lord’s: Middlesex v Glamorgan
Hove: Sussex v Northamptonshire
Headingley: Yorkshire v Leicestershire
Fixtures – Division One
Chester le Street: Durham v Hampshire
Canterbury: Kent v Somerset
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Surrey
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Essex
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire
Preamble
Good morning! Welcome back long-time friends and a warm hello to anyone new poking their head around the door, who has a fancy for following the County Championship through this season.
Today, anything seems possible. Gloucestershire could be promoted; Kent could steal the pennant from under the well-funded noses of south London. For now, a glass raised to new starts, old dogs, stars born and friends made. I’ll be at Old Trafford shortly – the skies are … frowning.