A cracking review of Ben Bloom’s new book, Batting for Time, which is sitting on my bedside table at home, next on the list after Maddy Orr’s Warming Up How Climate Change is Changing Sport.

Here at Durham, Shane Snater, with a small animal stuck to the top of his head, has replaced Jamie Porter. Bedingham looking in perky form, 18 off 22. Durham 31-2.

Division Two – runs a go-go

Stoneman and Fernandes have taken 50 off the first 12 Gloucestershire overs, Middlesex 50-0.

Vasconcelos and Gay making hay too, Northants 56-0.

And Lyth and Bean progressing nicely at Headingley against Derbyshire: Yorks 39-0

Division One:

At The Oval, Hampshire have lost Middleton for four, Dan Worrall continuing his good form of last week. Jamie Smith is keeping wicket in place of Foakes. Surrey 36-1.

At Edgbaston, another early exit for Haseeb Hameed, a catch for Davies off Hannon-Dalby. Ben Duckett getting in the mood, 36 off 37 balls. Notts 38-1.

Sean Dickson already warming his toes at Kidderminster, lbw to Waite for 16. Somerset 31-1.

Some stats that may pique the interest of CCLive readers. Right, with 40 mins gone, lets pull on the mittens and hurry around the grounds…

And without any additional score (a most unhappy) Alex Lees must also plod back, a second catch for Duke. Cook and Duke looked convinced, but Lees did not. The fielders, in multiple jumpers, wring their hands like anxious vicars.

And Porter snaffles the first wicket at CLS, a nice little scoop and dive by Harry Duke behind the stumps. He’s immediately surrounded by back slapping team-mates. Durham 11-1.

Batting or bowling?

Good morning Mike Daniels in the Grace Road scorebox: “Leics win toss and bowl. Hoping to catch sight of Currie’s knuckleball today. Best slower ball bowler I’ve ever seen was Franklyn Stephenson, though I believe he used to bowl it as an off cutter.” Yes! I reckon Courtney Walsh’s was pretty good too.

Durham win the toss, and will bat. No Siddle, they didn’t fancy risking him so soon after he landed. Potts, Parky, Raine, Coughlin and the peroxided Carse, the Durham attack.

Harry Duke is on loan with Essex from Yorkshire for two weeks, and keeps wicket with Pepper and Rossington injured, and Sam Cook captains in Westley’s absence.

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.

Weather watch

Fixtures

Preamble