Domestic season begins

LV County Champions Sussex bat first against MCC at Lord's

LV County Champions Sussex step up preparations for their title defence as they face MCC in the traditional domestic season curtain-raiser at Lord’s today.

The four-day game gets under way along with four other inter-county friendlies.

Yorkshire host Durham at Headingley Carnegie and Somerset play Glamorgan at Taunton. Both matches are scheduled for two days.

There are also one-day games between Hampshire and Gloucestershire at the Rose Bowl plus Northamptonshire and Derbyshire at Wantage Road.

Elsewhere, two friendlies enter their final day. Kent resume on 12 for one against Surrey at Beckenham after the visitors posted 195 on the opening day.

Worcestershire aim to build on their overnight 30 for one after Essex made 179 at Chelmsford yesterday.

Leicestershire go into the second day of three against Nottinghamshire at Grace Road on 180 for four after the visitors posted 254 for seven.