Team news and preview ahead of the resumption of Specsavers County Championship action on Tuesday.
DIVISION ONE
Essex v Nottinghamshire (Chelmsford)
Opener Nick Browne, who didn’t play in any of Essex’s Royal London One-Day Cup games, is included in their squad while Nottinghamshire, who are anxious to recover from Sunday’s defeat in the Royal London One Day Cup semi-final, are without the injured James Pattinson and Paul Coughlin. It’s the start of an 11-day road trip for Notts, who play Hampshire on the Isle of Wight next week.
Kent v Yorkshire (Canterbury)
Kent are without Sam Billings (shoulder), Joe Denly (England duty), Calum Haggett (elbow), Grant Stewart (back) and Ivan Thomas (knee) for their first Championship game against Yorkshire since 2012 but Sean Dickson returns to the squad. Yorkshire include off-spinner Dom Bess, who has joined them on loan from Somerset.
Somerset v Surrey (Taunton)
The unbeaten leaders, who are at full strength, take on the champions in the match of the round. Scott Borthwick is set to return for Surrey after recovering from a side injury and Rikki Clarke (finger) is also in their squad. Sam Curran is rested after returning from the IPL but Jade Dernbach (calf) is not fit while Jason Roy, Liam Plunkett and Tom Curran are all on England duty.
Warwickshire v Hampshire (Edgbaston)
With Sam Hain sidelined by a knee injury, Warwickshire could give a debut to 19-year-old batsman Rob Yates. Adam Hose and Henry Brookes are fit for the hosts but Ian Bell and Olly Stone remain on the sidelines. Hampshire are without Aiden Markram, who has linked up with South Africa’s World Cup squad, and James Vince who is on England duty but India batsman Ajinkya Rahane is expected to make his debut.
Division Two
Glamorgan v Gloucestershire (Newport)
County cricket returns to Newport’s Spytty Park for the first time in 54 years. Glamorgan all-rounder Kieran Carlson is absent as he studies for University exams and is replaced by Jeremy Lawlor while Michael Hogan returns after a hamstring injury. Gloucestershire seamer David Payne makes his first Championship appearance of the season after recovering from a foot injury.
Middlesex v Leicestershire (Lord’s)
Tom Lace has been recalled from a loan spell with Derbyshire, where he made three fifties in four innings, and will make his first Championship appearance at Lord’s for Middlesex, who are without the injured Dawid Malan and Steve Finn while Eoin Morgan, Paul Stirling and Tim Murtagh are on international duty. Pakistan quick bowler Mohammad Abbas makes his first appearance of the season for the Foxes.
Lancashire v Northamptonshire (Old Trafford)
Opener Joe Burns makes his Lancashire debut, the third Australian to have played for the county this season. Liam Livingstone is back after his stint in the IPL but James Anderson, who was hit on the knee during Sunday’s Royal London One Day Cup defeat to Hampshire, is a doubt and Alex Davies (thumb) is still absent.
Northants have signed Somerset seamer Jamie Overton and Nottinghamshire’s Luke Wood on loan, in Wood’s case for the second time this season. Both will play along with South African Test batsman Temba Bavuma, who is making his debut, but Blessing Muzarabani, Brett Hutton and Jack White are all injured.
Worcestershire v Durham (Worcester)
Worcestershire are likely to name the side which beat Leicestershire in their only four-day game so far. Durham, who lost both opening fixtures, welcome back seamer Chris Rushworth, who missed their Royal London One-Day Cup campaign because of a side strain, but Mark Wood has linked up with England.
