Surrey aim for sprint start

Fairbrother is a non-starter for Lancashire

The Frizzell County Championship kicks off on Friday with three first division matches, including Surrey against Sussex.

 E-mail your County Championship predictions

The usual sense of anticipation on day one of the championship season will be muted at the Oval as Surrey host Sussex.

The match will be preceded by a two minute silence to honour Surrey's Ben Hollioake and Umer Rashid of Sussex who both lost their lives recently.

Mark Butcher will lead Surrey in the absence of Ben's brother, Adam.

Sussex, who won the division two title last season, have no injury problems and will bring a full-strength squad.

Fast bowler James Kirtley will look to put his winter "throwing" nightmare behind him and regain his place in the England one-day side.

Reigning champions Yorkshire do not start their defence of the title until 24 April - so Surrey will be keen to steal a march on their rivals.

Click here for full preview

Lancashire v Leicestershire

Lancashire's Neil Fairbrother has failed to recover from a blood clot in his leg in time for the match and Chris Schofield is missing after breaking his toe.

Test star Andrew Flintoff has been rested from the game by England, but former Yorkshire captain David Byas makes his debut for the Red Rose county.

Leicestershire batsman Trevor Ward misses out after coming down with a virus.

Click here for full preview

Kent v Hampshire

Several Kent players are suffering from minor niggling injuries and will be assessed before the squad is announced.

Hampshire will travel to Canterbury with the same 12 that played against Somerset in a one-day friendly match in midweek.

Harmison will look to raise the heat at Durham

Click here for full preview

---

Division Two

Durham v Middlesex

Durham paceman Steve Harmison will line-up against Middlesex's Australian fast bowler Ashley Noffke at The Riverside.

Noffke will come up against fellow countryman Martin Love, one of several Australian players in the championship this season.

Click here for full preview

Worcestershire v Gloucestershire

Worcestershire's Graeme Hick looks in ominous form at the start of the season and will pose a threat to any bowler.

Former New Zealand Test star Craig Spearman is set to make his Gloucestershire debut alongside Australian Ian Harvey.

Click here for full preview

Glamorgan v Derbyshire

David Hemp is set to open the batting with Steve James at Cardiff after returning to Glamorgan.

New signings Dominic Hewson and Jason Kerr may make their Derbyshire debuts.

Click here for full preview