County Championship LIVE: Day one - score, radio & text

Weather outlook #bbccricket

Good news for the pacemen, if not spectators, is that the searing temperatures of round eight have cooled significantly and conditions look considerably more manageable for a heavy workload in the field.

More positive news for everyone today is that the covers are likely to stay behind the boundary rope and umbrellas left unfurled, with dry conditions forecast.

And cloud cover is also likely to give the bowlers more spring in their weary step.

Thereâ€TMs a chance of interruptions on day two, as rain is due to sweep in from the west, but nothing too damaging, before more cricket-friendly dryness follows.

Good morning and welcome #bbccricket

It seems no time at all since we were pulling up the stumps on our last slice of county championship action and here we all are again.

Itâ€TMs the second round of matches in this mini slice of the four-day competition, and the last before we break again until late August when the five-game run-in begins.

Thereâ€TMs plenty at stake between now and Wednesday evening, including a mouthwatering clash between table-topping Surrey and second-placed Essex.

The defending champions could pull out a decisive gap with victory, but a big win for Essex could leapfrog them into the top spot heading into the break.

Elsewhere, many eyes will be trained on Southport where Jimmy Anderson returns for his first game of the domestic season for Lancashire as he warms up for his big Test farewell at Lordâ€TMs.

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon will also make his final appearance for the Red Rose before he returns home to rest up for the Australian summer season.

And, if that isnâ€TMt enough, Ben Stokes will also have another run out for Durham before the small matter of skippering Englandâ€TMs Test campaign.

So letâ€TMs take a deep dive into whatâ€TMs coming up in the next few days.