Leicestershire charged by ECB, Nottinghamshire v Hampshire, and more: county cricket, day one – live

Key events

Comings and goings

Notts have signed New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Mitchell Hay for the last three matches after Kyle Verreynne was recalled by South Africa

Essex are running on empty, without Simon Harmer (recalled by South Africa), Sam Cook and Jordan Cox (England), Charlie Bennett and Noah Thain (injury). They’ve brought in teenager Jack Auld on a rookie contract.

Warwickshire’ Che Simmons has joined Gloucestershire on loan until the end of the season ahead of a permanent move.

Division One table

1 Somerset 167

2 Notts 163

3 Warwicks 162

4 Sussex 140

5 Glamorgan 124

6 Surrey 124

7 Essex 122

8 Yorkshire 120

9 Leicestershire 113

10 Hampshire 88

Division Two table

1 Durham 210

2 Kent 170

3 Northants 155

4 Middlesex 132

5 Worcestershire 130

6 Derby 114

7 Lancashire 97

8 Gloucestershire 63

Fixtures

Division One

Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Warwickshire

Grace Road: Leicestershire v Somerset

Trent Bridge: Notts v Hampshire

Hove: Sussex v Surrey

Headingley: Yorkshire v Essex

Division Two

Derby: Derbyshire v Kent

Chester le Street: Durham v Middlesex

Old Trafford: Lancashire v Gloucestershire

New Road: Worcestershire v Northamptonshire

Preamble - Leicesteshire charged with breaching ECB pitch regulations

Good morning! There are conkers on the ground now, and even the hardiest marigolds are fading into September. Just three rounds to go, and the chase is still on – for promotion and for the holy grail itself.

Could things finally go Somerset’s way? We will know more after their visit to Grace Road, where opponents Leicestershire are in a desperate fight for survival, and it looks as if if their summer is about to get worse. They have been charged with breaching the ECB Pitch Regulations after officials reported their pitch for the match against Glamorgan at the end of August. The matter has been passed to the independent Cricket Discipline Panel for adjudication where they will make the decision “as quickly as appropriately as possible” bearing in mind the ramifications.

We will chew over this, and the other comings and goings, over the next four days. Play starts at 10.30am, do join us.