Yorkshire won the toss and will make first use of the Grace Road wicket.

Leicestershire have made one change from the home defeat to Essex as spinner Ajaz Patel returns in place of Tom Scriven.

The visitors also beef up their spin options as Dan Moriarty is in for his maiden first-class appearance of the season.

Openers Adam Lyth and Will Luxton should be licking their lips as they head out to the square.

Lyth picks up a couple off Josh Davey’s first over to get the ball rolling.

Somerset won the toss and skipper Craig Overton has decided to bat in what should be cracking conditions.

The big team news for the hosts is that Tom Kohler-Cadmore has passed a fitness test and returns. For Warwickshire, strike bowler Ollie Hannon-Dalby misses out through illness after signing his new contract with the Bears.

Josh Thomas opens alongside Jordan Hermann, fresh from his super century at Trent Bridge a week ago.

Hermann sends Ethan Bamber's second ball to the deep midwicket boundary and then unfurls a lovely extra cover drive for four more off the fourth.

Adam Whitty
BBC Radio Leicester commentator

Not sure I've seen a pitch like this before...

Leicestershire have been creative ahead of hosting Yorkshire today. The ground staff have cut the ends of the strip more than the middle. Having got up close and personal (the dangers of cricket reporting) with the pitch, there are quite a few milimetres of difference.

My understanding is they asked the ECB if they were allowed to do it, and were told they were. The idea, to get more spin on the pitch - Grace Road doesn't often offer much to spinners, but that might change this weekend.

The Foxes are looking for their first home County Championship win against Yorkshire since 1986, they have struggled since promotion, and are winless so far - losing their last four.

So perhaps it called for a little bit of thinking 'outside the box'.

Not the most encouraging start for Essex opener Dean Elgar as Fergus O'Neill whistles the second ball of the day past the South African's outside edge.

Elgar has been a little short of runs so far this summer, but he is still there and that is all he will be bothered about.

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Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

There's quite an atmosphere in the ground in CLS today and it's not just because the suspended England skipper Ben Stokes is playing for Durham.

600 school children are here for the day as well and have been put in the stands near the media centre. There's all kinds organised for them, including arts and crafts and a bit of cricket. And no doubt there will be a few after a particular autograph as well.

Stokes has played two games for Durham this season. A win at Worcester and a draw at Beckenham. And such is the interest in him, from a media point of view, the page of names of extra scribes and photographers who are here, now runs to another side of A4!

It's all taking away from the important fact this is first against second in division two. Durham lead Northants by 18 points and are unbeaten following their first seven games. That's four wins and three draws. They are the only unbeaten team in the country.

Northants have won three, drawn three and lost one. And they will bat first after Durham won the toss and decided to put them in. Ben Sanderson returns for the visitors.

With the top two engaged at Chester-le-Street, there is a chance for the rest to make up valuable ground ahead of the summer break.

It is third against fourth at Canterbury where Kent entertain Middlesex. Both had wins last week and will know that victory over the next four days is certain to close the gap on one of Durham and Northants at least.

Leus du Plooy played a real captain's hand for Middlesex in beating Worcestershire, while nine wickets on debut from Bangladesh bowler Hasan Mahmud was crucial in Kent's success over Lancashire.

Speaking of Lancashire, they go to Chesterfield to face Derbyshire and are bang out of form. Three defeats in four has left them in fifth, only one point ahead of their opponents. However, they beat Derbyshire at Emirates Old Trafford in April in one of the games of the season and will try to tap into captain Jimmy Anderson's inspiration from that Monday afternoon to re-ignite the year..

The bottom two meet at New Road, although Worcestershire start 40 points clear of bottom-placed Gloucestershire. Worcestershire have also lost three of their last four after a promising start and will want to find some form to give them a bit of belief for when the Championship returns in August.

The Glosters have struggled from the off this season but they have not played the county from just up the M5 yet, so could they spring a surprise?

Image source, Getty Images

As if top against second in the race for promotion back to Division One was not enough, the England Test captain is playing for the home side.

While Ben Stokes's international future is still being decided after he broke the curfew following the win over New Zealand, he has decided getting out and playing some cricket is the best way to deal with things.

There are sure to be a few more photographers lining the boundary at Chester-le-Street and the press box might need to order a few extra sandwiches at lunch as interest in the game has been heightened by the presence of Stokes.

On the field Durham hold a 20-point lead off the back of two wins from their past three while Northants have won two on the bounce to stay in touch.

We are in for an interesting four days, on and off the field...

BBC Sounds

As usual, there is live ball-by-ball BBC radio commentary on all of today's matches.

To tune in click on the 'watch and listen' tab at the top of this page.

Or ask your smart speaker to play 'Durham v Northamptonshire' or whichever game you prefer, on BBC Sounds.

Don't forget, though to say 'day one' as well!

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Glamorgan have been one of the stories of the season so far. It’s been a strong return to Division One and even though they lie eighth, they’re closer to the top of the table than the bottom two.

A heavy defeat at Sussex last week - their second of the season - was a blow and they’ll hope it was only an aberration.

Surrey have been strangely written off in some quarters - largely thanks to an innings defeat at Yorkshire last month.

Yes, only one win for them so far but they’ve played on some flat pitches at The Oval and are still only 14 points off the top.

They also have Gus Atkinson here, after his suspension from the England Test side.

So potentially a big week for both sides on the banks of the River Taff.

Image source, Shutterstock

Yorkshire spinner Dom Bess has been talking up his side's chances of honours this season and with some justification.

Flying in the T20 Blast, the Tykes are just 16 points off Championship leaders Essex in a tightly-packed Division One table heading into round eight with wins over both Surrey and Somerset this season.

Only an impressive rearguard action by Warwickshire, in Scarborough, on Monday denied seventh-placed Yorkshire a third win in five.

In contrast, their hosts Leicestershire are in a tough spot, rock-bottom after four successive Championship defeats.

They are also without six first-team players through injury and unavailability, but did at least show plenty of fight to make a game of it against Essex last weekend.

Yorkshire also suffered a T20 defeat here less than a fortnight ago, so no time to be counting chickens yet.

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Nothing so far this season has suggested that romantic notions of a Sussex title are fanciful.

Very much now or never for a squad that are expected to be dispersed at the end of the season given the club’s money troubles.

A huge chance to keep that notion going this week against a beleaguered Hampshire.

Hants have at least arrested a slide of three straight defeats with two draws in a row but they won’t want to lose further ground. They begin the round 32 points from safety.

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A big clash in the West Country with both sides eyeing the summit going into a near two-month break for the Championship.

Somerset have a few injury concerns in their top order, but will be in buoyant mood as they host Warwickshire in a meeting of the third and fourth-placed teams.

A massive 306-run demolition of reigning champions Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge last time out left the Cider Boys within three points of top spot.

Although all-rounder Lewis Gregory joined batters Will Smeed and Tom Abell on the treatment table after pulling up with a hamstring problem in Nottingham, while James Rew is away on England duty.

Warwickshire may not have won last time out away to Yorkshire, but will be delighted to have avoided what looked a likely defeat in Scarborough and escaped with a draw.

They head to Taunton just two points adrift of their hosts and seeking a third win of their red-ball campaign.

Image source, Shutterstock

Current leaders against the defending champions, this one has all the ingredients for a battle royale.

Three wins on the spin have sent Essex to the top of the pile while Nottinghamshire have found the going a bit sticky with a 306-run defeat by Somerset last time out a gentle reminder that retaining the County Championship is not going to be easy.

There is still no Sam Cook for the home side because of a fractured wrist while Jordan Cox, a double-centurion against Leicestershire last week is with England in the second Test against New Zealand.

Essex have suffered a further blow with the loss of all-rounder Noah Thain with a side strain.

Kyle Verreynne and Olly Stone return to the Notts side.

If you were watching a 1990s sketch show you might just want to use the word 'scorchio' for today's weather.

But just how hot will it be where you are watching from?

You can check out the latest weather forecast for where today's games are being played here.

Division One

Chelmsford: Essex v Nottinghamshire - Essex won the toss and decided to bat

Cardiff: Glamorgan v Surrey - Glamorgan won the toss and decided to bat

Leicester: Leicestershire v Yorkshire - Yorkshire won the toss and decided to bat

Taunton: Somerset v Warwickshire - Somerset won the toss and decided to bat

Hove: Sussex v Hampshire - Hampshire won the toss and decided to bat

Division Two

Chesterfield: Derbyshire v Lancashire - Derbyshire won the toss and decided to bowl

Chester-le-Street: Durham v Northamptonshire - Durham won the toss and decided to bowl

Canterbury: Kent v Middlesex - Kent won the toss and decided to bat

Worcester: Worcestershire v Gloucestershire - Gloucestershire won the toss and decided to bat

Image source, BBC Sport

Durham are well on course for an immediate return to Division One with four wins from their unbeaten start with Northamptonshire, Kent and Middlesex chasing hard.

It is Durham v Northamptonshire in this round of fixtures while Kent meet Middlesex so the top positions could look a lot different by Monday evening.

The loss of a number of their top performers over the winter has hit Gloucestershire hard with just one win and six defeats from their opening seven matches.

While at the halfway stage, it is a case of must do better for Derbyshire and Lancashire.

Image source, BBC Sport

We have a title race on our hands in Division One of the County Championship.

Essex went top with their win over Leicestershire in the last round while Sussex are second and would be the leaders themselves, but for their 12-point deduction for financial issues.

Perennial bridesmaids Somerset are once again in the shake up as they chase a first title.

At the bottom, Leicestershire's first season in the top flight for 22 years is proving as tough as expected as they bring up the rear while Hampshire already find themselves with ground to make up.

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning!

The England Test captain is in the Durham side, a much-talked-about fast bowler is lining-up for Surrey and we have got two intriguing title races.

Not much to see here then.

It is going to be a hot one so, slip, slap, slop everyone and stay hydrated, we are going in...