County cricket opening day: Lancs v Surrey, Kent v Somerset, and more – live

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Wet, wet, wet….

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Have arrived at Old Trafford to find the covers on and no play before lunch.

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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.

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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.

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Chester le Street: Durham v Hampshire

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Canterbury: Kent v Somerset

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Old Trafford: Lancashire v Surrey

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Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Essex

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Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire

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Derby: Derbyshire v Gloucestershire

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Lord’s: Middlesex v Glamorgan

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Hove: Sussex v Northamptonshire

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Headingley: Yorkshire v Leicestershire

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Key events

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.

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Updated at 10.18 BST

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.

The Guardian