Four teams get a week off this round: Lancs, Kent, Sussex and Glamorgan.
A couple of bits of news around the grounds: Tom Westley isn’t available for Essex as his wife is about to give birth to their second child; Pakistan fast bowler Aamir Jamal (who took 18 wickets in three Tests against Australia last December) has signed for Warwickshire and could play today.
The sun is out but it is freeeezing – woolly hats for everyone warming up out on the field.
Mixed from the Met: Often cloudy, with scattered showers. Best of the sunnier breaks towards the north. Rain, heavy at times, developing over southwest England during the day as cloud covers the southern counties. Feeling chilly once more.
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street: Durham v Essex
The Oval: Surrey v Hampshire
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire
Kidderminster: Worcestershire v Somerset
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Middlesex
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Northampton
Headingley: Yorkshire v Derbyshire
Hello from Chester le Street! Day one of round four today, and although there’s a fine mist in the air here, they’re confident of play with just a few interruptions. No swamp to be seen either, just a groundsman with a wheelbarrow pushing things around. I’m off to find a cup of coffee to wrap my chilblains around – back shortly.