Hampshire’s Ben Brown was a disappointed man last night.

“It is a really poor start. The boys are really flat. You come into the season really looking forward to it so to put in that performance at home is hugely disappointing.

“We were outplayed in all areas. Essex played good cricket, they are a very good and experienced side. They out batted us, out bowled us and out fielded us. We were well beaten across all three days.

“Pound for pound they are the best bowling attacks looking around the circuit this week and we couldn’t deal with it. We didn’t manage to get on the front foot, we couldn’t score and got stuck in a hole. We couldn’t change that momentum.”

The pitch has dried out at the Riverside and they start on time (though with 128 overs lost from the game), as they do round the other seven grounds.

News from Yorkshire: Joe Root will play in the Championship games against Sussex, Somerset and Surrey; and Brook will play two games in May, against Warwickshire and Surrey.

Leicestershire are learning the hard way. This was Stevie Eskinazi last night:

“We’ve already learned that in Division One, where if you’re off it for 45 minutes like we were in that first session on day one, teams can go a long way to winning the game and that’s why they’re in this division and that’s why they’ve been so successful.
“We know that from the very first ball of the game we have to be on it and if we’re not, it becomes a long couple of days. But I’m really proud of the efforts of the guys in the field. I think at certain periods today, for example when Ben Green was running up that hill, getting the ball to talk, that’s the sort of cricket we want to play, where we were competitive, we were on the front foot.”

Storm Dave left its mark on the County Championship in the early hours of Easter Sunday, knocking over the camera gantry and untethering a cover at Chester-le-Street, leaving the pitch unplayable for Durham v Kent. Elsewhere, there were brickbats and chocolate eggs.

Leicestershire made a of hash of chasing an unlikely 481 against Sussex on a suddenly sun-dappled late afternoon at Grace Road. Rishi Patel was run out going for an optional second run in the second over, sent packing by a steaming direct hit from a crouching Jack Carson on the long-leg boundary. Wickets then tumbled with clockwork regularity, Jake Weatherald flashed at a delivery from Henry Crocombe, who then dismissed Lewis Hill for a pair. Finally Rehan Ahmed dashed for glory at James Coles, but found infamy, out for 34.

Essex celebrated the first win of the season, thrashing Hampshire by an innings and 137 runs. Jamie Porter, Sam Cook and Shane Snater ran through Hampshire’s first innings, before Matt Critchley – who had a match to remember – snaffled five for nine in 4.3 overs in the follow on, and Simon Harmer, in sunglasses and snood, three for 49.

Middlesex’s Toby Roland-Jones zipped out five for 37 against Gloucestershire, who were forced to follow on at Lord’s. Leg-spinner Mason Crane pocketed five for Glamorgan to put them in a great position against Yorkshire. Will Luxton became the second official ECB injury sub, replacing Jonny Bairstow.

Northamptonshire’s Harry Conway made life tricky for the visitors at Wantage Road. At 6ft 7in the Australian pinged the ball like a stale Creme Egg, ripping out the heart of Lancashire’s second innings, removing Josh Bohannon, George Bell and Michael Jones in one over. However, Tom Bailey (35) and Ajeet Singh Dale (unbeaten on 44) rebuilt, leaving Northants 321 to win.

Shoaib Bashir, wind buffeting his trousers, grabbed his first wicket for Derbyshire, but later cost the club five penalty runs for “deception” after feigning to throw the ball when fielding. Nineteen-year-old Dan Lategan was Worcestershire’s mortar with 89 and 43 not out in the follow-on.

Somerset’s James Rew left his calling card with a century against Nottinghamshire; Surrey are in fix at Edgbaston, still 47 short of innings defeat against Warwickshire, but on an increasingly generous pitch. Jamie Smith made an unbeaten half century.

DIVISION ONE

Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 302 and 111-3 v Yorkshire 226

Southampton: Essex 461-7d BEAT Hampshire 156 and 168 by an innings and 136 runs.

Grace Road: Leicestershire 245 and 125-5 v Sussex 361 and 364 Leicestershire need 356 to win

Taunton: Somerset 347 and 214-1 v Nottinghamshire 338

Edgbaston: Warwickshire 544 v Surrey 328 and 169-3

DIVISION TWO

The County Ground: Derbyshire 625-8dec v Worcestershire 312 and 68-1

Chester le Street: Durham 335 and 83-2 v Kent 197 no play today, storm damage

Lord’s: Middlesex 445-9dec v Gloucestershire 216 and 120-3

Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 258 and 9-1 v Lancashire 384 and 194

Hello and happy Easter Monday! It’s a fresh but sunny morning in Leicester, where squirrels are spring-leaping like disobedient fireworks and I spotted some wild garlic sprouting by the side of a footpath.

This is day four of the first round of Championship games, with Essex first to cross the line in 2026, thanks to a innings and more hammering of Hampshire. Loads more to look out for today, with results likely everywhere except Taunton. Upstarts Glamorgan could turn over Yorkshire on a pitch that Ryan Hadley says will become [even] more spin friendly and Warwickshire could do the same to Surrey – though the pitch is more placid at Edgbaston.

Leicestershire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire all have a fight on their hands to come out of the round with a draw, and keep an eye on the topsy-turvy match at Wantage Road. They are due to inspect the pitch at Chester-le-Street shortly to see if any play is possible.

Things roll into action at 11am, do join us.