ESSEX: Alex Tudor came through his comeback match against Gloucestershire and is expected to play against his former county, Surrey, at Whitgift School. Darren Gough, however, is still unfit. Varun Chopra retains his place after his hundred on championship debut, which means that Will Jefferson will have to wait to make his return..

SURREY: Alistair Brown, 36 and almost a fixture in the side for 14 years, has been dropped for the match against Essex at Whitgift School today after scoring only 98 runs in seven championship innings this season. He will be replaced by James Benning. Martin Bicknell could play his first match this year after recovering from a groin injury.

LEICESTERSHIRE: Dinesh Mongia is likely to continue as captain against Northamptonshire in the match at Oakham School, noted for a pitch good for batting. Jeremy Snape is still struggling with a cracked thumb and rain restricted Darren Robinson’s chance to put his sore shin to the test for the second XI last week.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE: After 123 years of continuous first-class cricket, broken only by war, weather has conquered the Gloucester Festival. King’s School, which has hosted matches on Archdeacon Meadow since 1993, gave in last week to the rain. The fixture against Worcestershire, starting on Friday, has been moved to Bristol.

SOMERSET: Ian Blackwell is to have surgery on his shoulder and is likely to be out of action for the rest of the season. Cameron White, who is in his first season with the county, has been asked to take on the captaincy on account of his experience in that role with Victoria. Matthew Wood will concentrate on developing his batting.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE: Charl Pietersen is added to the XI that drew against Derbyshire for the match away to Leicester. Mark Tagg, the chief executive, is keen to add to the 1,500 paid-up members. “Our membership sub of £130 includes all our home Twenty20 games as well as the tour match against Pakistan,” he said.

WORCESTERSHIRE: The Phil Jaques show will continue on Friday at Bristol, where the Australia left-hander, trying to secure a place in the Ashes side for next winter, may have a chance to test himself against Jon Lewis on a damp pitch. Matt Mason, the seam bowler, should return from a hip flexor problem to strengthen the bowling.

GLAMORGAN: After relegation last season, the team remain rooted to the bottom of the second division. Failure to take Worcestershire’s last wicket last week may haunt them but they beat today’s visiting side, Somerset, at Swansea in 2004. James Franklin, the New Zealand fast-medium bowler, will make his home debut for the county.

TODAY’S FIXTURES

11.0, first day of four, 104 overs minimum

SWANSEA: Glamorgan v Somerset

OAKHAM SCHOOL: Leicestershire v Northamptonshire

WHITGIFT SCHOOL: Surrey v Essex

MCC UNIVERSITY MATCH: First day of three: The Parks: Oxford UCCE v Durham