SURREY: Azhar Mahmood will miss the championship match against Somerset in Bath today because of an ankle injury. James Benning is fit again after breaking a toe, while Richard Clinton stands by in case Mark Butcher, the captain, fails to recover from a lower-back problem. Neil Saker, the fast-medium bowler, is also included in a squad of 13.

ESSEX: Darren Gough has fully recovered from a hamstring strain and is set to play his first championship match since April when Worcestershire visit Chelmsford today. Alex Tudor is named in a 13-man squad, having missed the defeat away to Surrey, but he may get an opportunity once Essex have assessed the pitch.

DERBYSHIRE: An unchanged team travels to Gloucestershire. Graham Wagg will have to wait for his championship debut after returning from a shoulder injury in the C&G Trophy match on Sunday. “We’re concerned about his ability to bowl in two innings, so he is playing in the seconds,” David Houghton, the director of cricket, said.

WORCESTERSHIRE: Matt Mason, who missed two championship matches because of a family bereavement, should return to the team to play Essex. Steve Rhodes, the coach, will wait to see the pitch before picking the team. Nadeem Malik, the seam bowler, needs an operation on his shins that will keep him out for at least six weeks.

SOMERSET: Pitch consultants have recommended that a layer of top soil be removed from the square at Taunton to try to create a fairer balance between bat and ball. A crowd of 20,000 will attend the Elton John concert on the County Ground on Sunday, including Ian Botham, who has taken a box in the stand named after him.

LEICESTERSHIRE: Martin Corry, the Leicester and England rugby union captain who has been rested for the tour to Australia, will turn his hand to cricket for Darren Maddy’s Benefit at Grace Road tonight. Jeremy Snape will play after three weeks out with a cracked thumb and should return to captain the team on Friday in the C&G Trophy.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE: Jon Lewis, who was left out of the England one-day squad and has taken 15 wickets in his two championship matches at an average of 7.40 will be available for Gloucestershire. “I’ve asked for grass to be left on this pitch, so as to promote a fairer contest between bat and ball,” Lewis, the captain, said.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE: Monty Panesar returns to county duty, replacing Graeme White for the home match against Glamorgan. Steve Crook, the Australian all-rounder, who was expected to be out for the season with a stress fracture of the back, in fact, has an inflamed disc and may be fit for the Twenty20 matches.

GLAMORGAN: The players will expect a battle of the spinners against Northamptonshire. Robert Croft and Dean Cosker, the spin bowlers, dominated in the last round against Derbyshire and could take the new ball in the second innings again. Mark Cosgrove, Glamorgan’s Australia batsman, will be expected to provide the runs.

TODAY’S FIXTURES
11.0, first day of four, 104 overs minimum

CHELMSFORD: Essex v Worcestershire

BRISTOL: Gloucestershire v Derbyshire

NORTHAMPTON: Northamptonshire v Glamorgan

BATH: Somerset v Surrey