County Championship preview

Brad Hodge makes his Leicestershire Championship debut

Division One

Only centuries from Ian Ward and Rikki Clarke salvaged a draw for defending champions Surrey in their opening match of the season against Lancashire.

But Clarke has been dropped for the match against Warwickshire, along with Graham Thorpe, as Mark Butcher returns for his first start.

Ali Brown is included after recovering from tonsillitis and Martin Bicknell is set for his first Championship appearance of the season after recovering from a side strain.

Warwickshire are boosted by Michael Clark's recovery from a groin strain but fast bowler Melvyn Betts has a minor stomach muscle injury which will require a late fitness test.

Defeat for Surrey could send them to the bottom of the table if basement side Sussex can recover from an agonising opening match loss when they host Kent.

Sussex keep the same squad which lost by three wickets after an incredible recovery by Middlesex while Kent coach Ian Brayshaw also has no new injury concerns.

Leicestershire and Essex will both be looking to pick up their first win when they meet at Grace Road.

Australian Brad Hodge is expected to make his Championship debut for the home side having featured in his first National League game at the weekend.

And Devon Malcolm, overlooked for last week's championship draw with Kent, is included in a 13-man squad.

England Test captain Nasser Hussain features in the Essex side for the first time in the Championship this season.

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Division Two

Yorkshire began their season with a crushing win over Northants and they will look to continue that form at Hampshire, who are looking for their first win of the season following two draws.

And the Tykes' hopes of remaining unbeaten are boosted by the return to their side of Michael Vaughan after his post-World Cup rest.

Vaughan returns to the Yorkshire side

Simon Katich, the Australia A captain, will make his debut for Hampshire against his former side while Ed Giddins' bruised ribs could rule him out.

South African fast bowler Dewald Pretorius will make his Championship debut for Durham, who play Gloucestershire at the Riverside.

Top of the table Gloucestershire are boosted by the return of Mike Smith and Jon Lewis after recovering from rib and groin problems respectively.

Off-spinner Martyn Ball loses his place to seamer Mark Hardinges despite taking seven wickets in the drawn encounter with Northamptonshire last week.

Worcestershire, who opened their season with a draw against Hampshire, have named opener Stephen Peters in their squad to face Northamptonshire.

Peters is fit after picking up a thumb injury while fielding in his side's National League win at the weekend.

Northants welcome back their captain Mike Hussey, while John Blain replaces Graeme Swann, who has an ankle injury.

Vice captain Tony Penberthy is back in training following an achilles tendon injury but will not be ready for the trip to New Road.

Andy Caddick, rested after his England's exploits over the winter and at the World Cup, is back in the reckoning for Somerset who face a trip to Derbyshire.

However, fellow international Ian Blackwell is unavailable to face his former side after splitting the webbing on a hand.

The visitors are without bowler Matt Bulbeck, who has been told to take a complete rest for three weeks following a back injury, but Richard Johnson and Nixon McLean are both back in contention.

Derbyshire welcome back Michael Di Venuto, Chris Bassano, Mohammad Ali and Kevin Dean, all of whom sat out the three-day game against Bradford/Leeds UCCE last week.

Steve Stubbings, Neil Gunter and Lian Wharton make way, but Tom Lungley is named in the 12-man party.