Coverage of the opening four fixtures of the 2014 LV= County Championship, when bowlers took advantage of overcast conditions. Middlesex were bowled out for just 105, while James Anderson returned the first five-wicket haul of the campaign.
By Glen Robertson
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6.24pm - Play has officially been abandoned for the day at Trent Bridge, so that brings to an end the first day of the LV= County Championship. We've had 680 runs and 30 wickets in bowler-friendly conditions. Join us again tomorrow for day two.
Division One
Nottinghamshire are 270 for nine, having been 20 for three, against Lancashire at Trent Bridge. The Red Rose’s James Anderson took five wickets, while Samit Patel scored 92 and Alex Hales added 61 for the hosts.
Sussex are 86 for three at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground having dismissed Middlesex for 105. Jon Lewis took four wickets for the hosts while Matt Prior reached the close unbeaten on 32 after shaking off an Achilles problem to play.
Division Two
Surrey reached 182 for five after being inserted by Glamorgan at the Kia Oval. Steven Davies hit 67 while Zafar Ansari was unbeaten on 50 at the close for the hosts.
Hampshire are 37 for three after only 8.5 overs were possible at the Ageas Bowl. Chris Russell took two scalps for Worcestershire, while Jimmy Adams hit 32 of his side’s runs.
9.2 overs left in the day, the umpires are still out there, but this could be it for the day #NottsvLancs
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) April 6, 2014
6.11pm - And the light has now forced the players off in Nottingham. That could be that on an action-packed day one.
6.04pm - Kabir Ali gets his second wicket of the day. Jake Ball is bowled for 10 and Nottinghamshire are nine down.
6.01pm - That's stumps at both the Kia Oval and the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground. We have just the one game - at Trent Bridge - still in progress.
5.54pm - And there is Anderson's fifth! The swing bowler accounts for Hales, who departs for a patient 61 after edging to first slip.
5.41pm - Lancashire take the new ball and James Anderson duly works his magic. Luke Fletcher survives four deliveries before nicking the fifth behind. That's Anderson's fourth of the day and he'll fancy a five-for now.
BAD LIGHT STOPS PLAY at Hove with Sussex 86/3 in reply to Middlesex's 105 all out #GOSBTS
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) April 6, 2014
5.34pm - One ball after Ansari reaches his landmark the players head off due to bad light. They're back on at Trent Bridge, though.
Meanwhile, at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground, Prior and Matt Machan are taking Sussex towards Middlesex's total. They trail by 23 runs with seven wickets in hand.
5.32pm - That's fifty for Ansari. He's had to work hard for that, facing 182 balls. It's just what Surrey required, though. They are 181 for five.
5.26pm - In international cricket, Sri Lanka have won the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh, with a six-wicket victory over India .
5.22pm - The umpires call it a day at the Ageas Bowl. Only 8.5 overs were possible on day one, with Hampshire losing three wickets for only 37 runs.
Meanwhile, bad light forces the players off the field at Trent Bridge.
5.13pm - Alex Hales reaches a fifty with a boundary off Simon Kerrigan. The England T20 specialist has excelled against the red ball this afternoon.
Surrey's Zafar Ansari is approaching the same landmark in London.
WICKET..Murtagh traps Yardy LBW for 17 and Sussex lose their third wicket, they're 42/3 now in reply to Middlesex's 105 all out #GOSBTS
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) April 6, 2014
4.51pm - When Surrey lose wickets they do in flurries! Steven Davies is caught behind off Michael Hogan for an impressive 67 and then Gary Wilson is trapped lbw five balls later. The hosts are 158 for five at the Kia Oval.
Lancashire strike again as Read is bowled by White, who now has two scalps to his name.
4.44pm - Ryan Harris has his first wicket of the campaign, as Luke Wells edges to Sam Robson at second slip. That brings Matt Prior to the crease with his side 28 for two. At Trent Bridge, White puts down a difficult caught-and-bowled opportunity that could have accounted for Chris Read.
4.30pm - Samit Patel fails to complete the first ton of the season as he feathers Wayne White behind for a brilliant 93. He'll be disappointed not to have gone on to three figures but his knock has shifted the momentum at Trent Bridge in his team's favour. When he came to the crease Notts were 17 for two, which was soon 20 for three, but he departs with the score 200 for five.
4.20pm - An early wicket for Middlesex as Ed Joyce is bowled for 12 by Ireland team-mate Tim Murtagh. Meanwhile, we're back underway at Notts but rain continues to delay proceedings at the Ageas Bowl.
Murtagh and Harris have opened the bowling, Joyce and Wells with the bat for Sussex. #middlesex150
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) April 6, 2014
All set after tea pic.twitter.com/nL2ksbr99u
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) April 6, 2014
4.08pm - The umpires at the Kia Oval have checked the light but the game is good to continue.
3.57pm - That's tea at Trent Bridge, too, with Patel unbeaten on 91 and his partnership with Hales worth 92 runs.
The Club are pleased to confirm that Tom Poynton has been discharged from hospital and is now at home with his family http://t.co/XAxBX7mmT3
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) April 6, 2014
3.48pm - Middlesex are all out for 105. Magoffin ends with 3-21 as he removes Roland-Jones, who had added 17. Sussex will begin their response following the interval.
It's Surrey's session at the Kia Oval as they take tea 135 for three.
3.43pm - Steven Finn and Toby Roland-Jones are putting up a rearguard fight for Middlesex and have dragged them to three figures. Their stand of 14 is the third highest at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground today.
Ansari and Davies have recorded a century partnership at the Kia Oval. They came together after Surrey had fallen from 34 without loss to 34 for three. Top work from the pair.
3.36pm - Frustration for Lancashire as Alex Davies fails to hold on to an edge from Patel. Nottinghamshire's fifth-wicket partnership is now worth 60.
3.31pm - The rain has returned at the Ageas Bowl and the players head off. Worcestershire have made a fantastic start, with three early wickets. Adams has scored 32 of Hampshire's 37 runs.
Patel takes 10 off three balls against Kerrigan to move to 69. 154-4. #LVCC
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) April 6, 2014
3.18pm - Batsmen around the country are taking their time in difficult conditions, except for Jimmy Adams. The Hampshire opener has three boundaries in his run-a-ball 24. Russell concedes two boundaries and a three to Adams in one over, but immediately responds by ousting James Vince, who had not troubled the scorecard. Hampshire are 28 for three.
WICKET..Murtagh has an almighty slog from Zaidi but skews it up in the air to deep midwicket where Prior takes a dolly. Middlesex 86/9 now
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) April 6, 2014
3.11pm - Morris takes his first championship wicket as Hampshire lose a second early wicket. Liam Morris made just two before being bowled by the Sussex debutant.
Davies has recorded a half-century at the Kia Oval. That's a top effort, with his partnership with Ansari now worth 87.
3.06pm - Ashar Zaidi's first ball of the campaign gets a wicket as James Harris is cleaned up for six by the slow left-armer. Middlesex are now 82 for eight.
2.49pm - That's not the start that Hampshire will have envisaged. Michael Carberry is dismissed for nought in the game's opening over as he is trapped lbw by Chris Russell.
Middlesex now find themselves seven down with only 74 on the board. Steve Magoffin has his second scalp of the contest as John Simpson is caught at third slip.
Here's Chris Russell to bowl the first over of 2014 #LETSGO
— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) April 6, 2014
2.41pm - Patel records the season's first fifty and brings it up in style, with a hooked six off Wayne White.
2.35pm - What a start to the season for Lewis! He has a fourth scalp as he finds Adam Rossington's edge and Ben Brown takes the catch behind the stumps. Middlesex have been reduced to 73 for six at Sussex.
Surrey have reached three figures at the Kia Oval, with Davies looking good on 41.
2.21pm - WORCESTERSHIRE WIN THE TOSS AND ELECT TO BOWL. Unsurprisingly, Hampshire are asked to bat after the visitors to the Ageas Bowl win the toss. Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Charles Morris make their championship debuts for the visitors, who include Moeen Ali, last season's top run-scorer. Will Smith and Joe Gatting are named in Hampshire's team.
Middlesex are now five down. Dawid Malan - who is currently responsible for over 50 per cent of his side's runs - becomes Lewis' third victim. Sussex have reduced their opponents to 66 for five.
2.17pm - Zafar Ansari and Steven Davies have put on 50 for Surrey's fourth wicket so far. The former has scored just nine of them and was dropped by Mark Wallace moments ago.
Wessels cleaned up by Jimmy http://t.co/ccJhJm5lEl
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) April 6, 2014
No hat-trick for Lewis as Rossington fends him away through the gully area. Middlesex 60/4 at Hove #GOSBTS
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) April 6, 2014
2.10pm - Lancashire hit back against Nottinghamshire as James Anderson takes his third wicket. Wessels has his stumps rearranged by the England paceman, but his 39 - and 85-run partnership with Patel - has clawed Notts back into the contest.
The players are warming up! Umpires inspection in ten minutes pic.twitter.com/8SAh8YzLwq
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) April 6, 2014
2pm - Jon Lewis takes two wickets in two deliveries as he has Neil Dexter caught behind and then bowls Eoin Morgan first ball. That's it for his current over but he'll be back shortly for the hat-trick ball.
Riki Wessels has hit the first six of the campaign. Notts have reached 100 at Trent Bridge, with Samit Patel closing in on a fifty.
A thick outside edge from Wessels dissects third slip and gully against Ali. 76-3. #NottsvLancs
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) April 6, 2014
1.40pm - We're back underway in three of our games, while the news from the Ageas Bowl is that there will be an inspection at 2.15pm.
1pm - That's lunch following a wicket-filled morning in the LV= County Championship. Here's what's happened so far.
Division One
Nottinghamshire are 71 for three having been inserted by Lancashire at Trent Bridge. James Anderson picked up a couple of wickets as Notts slipped to 20 for three, but Riki Wessels and Samit Patel have steadied things.
Middlesex are 40 for two after Sussex won the toss and chose to field at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground. Steve Magoffin and James Anyon removed openers Chris Rogers and Sam Robson respectively following a delayed start.
Division Two
Surrey are 57 for three at the Kia Oval after Glamorgan elected to field. Jim Allenby has a couple of scalps, as Surrey lost three wickets without adding a run after a solid start from Graeme Smith and Rory Burns.
There has been no play at the Ageas Bowl as Hampshire host Worcestershire.
50 up for the 4th wicket partnership between Wessels and Patel. Nottinghamshire 70-3 #NottsvLancs
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) April 6, 2014
12.56pm - Robson is the latest batsman to fall in the morning session, caught behind off James Anyon after a battling 11. Middlesex are 36 for two after 14 overs at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground.
12.40pm - Notts have recovered from their early wobble, reaching the 50-mark with Samit Patel and Riki Wessels denying the Lancashire attack further scalps. It's a very difficult day for batting around the country. The key is hanging around at the moment.
Tough batting conditions..good bowling... Surrey 37-3...Davies 3*, Ansari 0*
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) April 6, 2014
12.26pm - Two wickets in as many balls gets Glamorgan's first point of the season on the board and leaves Surrey reeling. Dominic Sibley fails to score before edging Allenby to Wallace behind the stumps, and Graham Wagg then traps Smith lbw at the start of the next over to reduce Surrey to 34 for three.
12.14pm - Surrey's solid start is undone as Burns is trapped lbw by Jim Allenby having made 10.
12.08pm - Chris Rogers took just three balls to find the boundary, but those will be his only runs in the first innings as fellow Aussie Steve Magoffin ousts him for four. Dawid Malan joins Sam Robson in the middle for Middlesex.
Surrey have survived the first 10 overs at the Kia Oval, with Smith and Burns coping in the murky conditions. At Trent Bridge, Anderson has just completed the ninth over of his spell. He has figures of 2-14 so far.
The season is up and running... pic.twitter.com/Bm2LLWjtz5
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) April 6, 2014
11.59am - The players are out at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground. We are just waiting on one game, now. At the Ageas Bowl they will take an early lunch at 12.30pm with an inspection planned 15 minutes later.
It's bad news from Dhaka, as Australia lift the Women's World Twenty20 with a six-wicket victory over England.
11.48am - Anderson strikes again at Trent Bridge. He really loves bowling there. This time it's Lumb who is sent packing, bowled for four. Notts are 20 for three and in a bit of bother.
11.40am - Smith is in the mood for Surrey today. Michael Hogan is sent to the boundary four times in one over - three of them in successive deliveries - by the former South Africa skipper.
11.35am - SUSSEX HAVE WON THE TOSS AND WILL FIELD. In overcast conditions - the game will start under lights - Sussex will look to put early pressure on Middlesex. Matt Prior has recovered from an Achilles problem to feature, although Ben Brown will keep wicket. Play starts at midday in that one.
It's a good start for Lancashire on their return to the top tier. Anderson has his first wicket of the campaign, trapping Jaques lbw for 10, as the Red Rose make early inroads having won the toss.
11.30am - The second game of the day has started, with Rory Burns and Graeme Smith at the crease for Surrey. Here's milestone-man Mark Wallace striding out to make his 200th consecutive championship appearance.
Add aKabir claims his 1st Lancs 4 day wicket http://t.co/ozDKGMwMbC
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) April 6, 2014
11.21am - We have our first wicket of the season and it's gone to Kabir Ali. In his third over, he bowls Mullaney for three and Nottinghamshire are 13 for one. Michael Lumb is the next man in.
Mark Wallace has been confirmed in Glamorgan's team, ensuring he appears for the 200th consecutive LV=CC game. Few would have predicted that when he started the run in 2001 against Kent at Maidstone! He is the first player since Middlesex’s Clive Radley in 1976 to reach the landmark playing for one team.
11.13am - GLAMORGAN WIN THE TOSS AND ELECT TO FIELD. As Phil Jaques picks up the first boundaries of the season, Glamorgan choose to bowl first at the Kia Oval. Meanwhile, play is set to start at midday at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground.
All set for toss pic.twitter.com/9dUG8OsiUi
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) April 6, 2014
Early life for Mullaney, who is dropped at point by White off Ali on 0. 1-0 #NottsvLancs
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) April 6, 2014
11am - It's officially underway! James Anderson gets us going with a dot to Steven Mullaney.
10.55am - We're minutes away from the start of the season. Strap yourselves in...
It's that time of year again....My eyes will be fixated on the @ECB_cricket app for the next 6 months
— Will Beer (@willbeer18) April 6, 2014
10.45am - Sussex have announced an inspection will take place in 15 minutes, while play should start at 11.30am at Surrey. It is still drizzling at Hampshire, though.
10.38am - LANCASHIRE WIN THE TOSS AND WILL BOWL. Notts have Alex Hales in the team, while Jake Ball replaces the injured Andre Adams. The tosses are delayed at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground, the Kia Oval and the Ageas Bowl.
Let's have a stat to start the season before we get going: In @LancsCCC 150th year, this will be our 3,264th game (1187 wins, 683 defeats)!
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) April 6, 2014
10.25am - It's a big day for Lancashire at Trent Bridge, as they return to the top flight after a one-year absence. James Anderson will be hoping to shine at Trent Bridge, as he did during the Ashes last summer. Meanwhile, in Division Two, Mark Wallace is set to make his 200th consecutive LV=CC appearance. Read all about that, and the team news ahead of today's games, in our preview.
10.20am - Middlesex finished right in the middle of the pack last season, but hopes are high of an improvement this time round. Ollie Rayner discusses his team's chances here.
10.15am - While we follow the domestic cricket, England Women are in the middle of their World Twenty20 final against Australia in Dhaka. You can keep up with their quest for glory with our live blog.
10.10am - Of course, there were five games scheduled today but Leicestershire against Derbyshire was postponed as a mark of respect, after Derbyshire wicketkeeper Tom Poynton was involved in a serious road accident in which his father, Keith, was killed.
10am - It's back! Welcome to ecb.co.uk's live coverage of the 2014 county cricket season. We will bring you all the thrills and spills in an exciting new era for the game over the next six months.
Today sees the start of the LV= County Championship, with two matches in each of Division One and Division Two and over the next four days our blog will bring you the key events as they happen from:
Nottinghamshire v Lancashire, Trent Bridge
Sussex v Middlesex, the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground
Hampshire v Worcestershire, the Ageas Bowl
Surrey v Glamorgan, the Kia Oval
Right then..rain has stopped and mopping up has started...encouraging signs @GlamCricket #weatherwatch pic.twitter.com/Gj8bGiNTmk
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) April 6, 2014
There is a bit of rain around at the moment, but the games are scheduled to get underway in an hour. Before then, here's a few interesting statistics surrounding today's fixtures.
LV= County Championship facts
One of Sussex’s last eight home championship matches against Middlesex have been drawn. Sussex have four wins in this time, Middlesex three.
Four of Division One’s seven highest run-scorers in 2013 played for Sussex or Middlesex: Sam Robson, Ed Joyce, Chris Nash and Chris Rogers.
Three of the seven bowlers to take 50 Division One wickets in 2013 played for Sussex: Steve Magoffin, Chris Jordan and James Anyon.
Chris Rogers and Sam Robson recorded the highest opening partnership of the 2013 championship season – 259 against Surrey at Lord’s.
Andre Adams hit the most sixes in Division One last year – 17, six more than anyone else.
Moeen Ali was the highest run-scorer across both divisions in 2013. He hit 1,375 runs at an average of 62.5.
Worcestershire had Division Two’s highest run-scorer and wicket-taker (Moeen Ali and Alan Richardson).
Of bowlers to deliver at least 50 overs in Division Two last year, only Trent Copeland (18.3) had a lower average than Kyle Hogg (18.4).
