The vacancy sign over one England openers slot continues to swing.The selectors fancy James Rew, but he keeps wicket and bats in the middle order for Somerset.How to square the circle? Friday’s answer was Rew opening for Somerset for the first time in his first-class career.It was a short-lived experiment, Rew lasting just seven balls before being bowled for four.Around Rew there were runs for young Josh Thomas (71) and Tom Lammonby (45) before Glamorgan debutant Tom Norton picked the first of three wickets.

Tom Abell’s 86 propped up the rest of the innings.Dan Worrall slipped into his Surrey bowling boots for the first time this spring and soon dismissed Nottinghamshire’s openers.He pocketed another wicket when Ben Duckett (42) fended at a lifter, and another two in a mini Notts collapse of four for five.Joe Clarke’s unbeaten 129, his second century of a rich early season, kept Notts in the match.Middlesex’s skilled young seam attack made Lancashire work hard for their runs, Keaton Jennings (67), was, as ever, the glue.

James Anderson then reduced Middlesex to 38 for two as the clouds closed in.Jack White (four for 49) and his band of Yorkshire right-arm seamers ruined Warwickshire, a string of single digit scores strung together by 57 from Sam Hain.Harry Brook, in his first innings of the summer, got off the mark with an outrageously dismissive cover drive.Half-centuries for Jake Lehmann and Ben Brown hauled Hampshire towards near respectability against Essex.A marauding Sam Cook (three for 56) took out the top order and Wiaan Mulder finished things off.

Sussex kept Leicestershire in sight, despite dropping six catches.Jack Carson pocketed four wickets and the impressive Ollie Robinson three.An unbeaten 91 from Caleb Jewell topped a morale-boosting day for Derbyshire against Northamptonshire.With the covers stretched ominously over OT like a deflated tent, time for me to go home.Thanks for your company, see you tomorrow!DIVISION ONEChelmsford: Essex 51-2 v Hampshire 235Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Somerset 337-9Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 317-7 v SurreyHove: Sussex 3-0 v Leicestershire 328Edgbaston: Warwickshire 147 v Yorkshire 110-4DIVISION TWOThe County Ground: Derbyshire 342-3 v NorthamptonshireBristol: Gloucestershire 325 v Kent 1-0Old Trafford: Lancashire 201 v Middlesex 38-2New Road: Worcestershire 209-7 v DurhamTime for me to write up for second edition now – but do chat on BTL.

Down in Division Two, Gloucestershire and Derbyshire are having good days.Half centuries for Bracey, Price and Charlesworth and 43 not out from Tommy Boorman have taken Glos to 300-5 against Kent.While half centuries for Harry Came and Matthew Montgomery and 91 not out for Caleb Jewell and 57 not out for Wayne Madsen have left Derbys 342-3 against Northants – and now bad light has landed on The County Ground too.Where Harry Brook (29) had been joined by Jonny Bairstow.Yorks 110-4, trail Warwicks by 37.

Which is a blessed relief for Middlesex – 38 for two.Keaton Jennings picks up a bail that has been deposited 10 feet away from the stumps by Jimmy Anderson, and tidily returns it to the umpire.Holden the man whose middle stump went flying, out for five.Middx 26-2.Tom Abell (74 not out) and the tail have fought back valiantly for Somerset.

Glamorgan did get rid of Overton for 33 but have now met the equally stubborn Lewis Gregory.And another wicket at Edgbaston! It’s not Harry Brook, but James Wharton, driving flashily and caught at slip, out to his old buddy Jordan Thompson.Thompson’s celebration curves quite close to Wharton’s departing boots.Yorkshire 106-4.Ding.

Dong.Sam Roson tucks his bat under his right arm and wanders away, caught at the third time of asking by Jones at first slip off Jimmy Anderson.Middx 12-1.Notts have had an attack of the vapours against Surrey, and from 251 for three lose four wickets for five runs.Clarke is still there on 112 – a second hundred of a season, which also includes three 90s and an 82.

Sean Abbott joins Dan Worrall in the wickets.Brook isn’t hanging around.Beaten by a ball from Booth, he cuts the next ball with helicopter wrists for six.Yorks 47-3.To four slips and in bright sunshine, Jimmy Anderson takes to his mark.

Running away from the pavilion, he slides in.Lancs stumbled to 200 – just.Chris Green the last man out, and a third wicket for Seb Morgan.Lancashire’s slip fielders are already out practising, To their left, Jimmy Anderson is turning his arm over.The most dismissive cover drive of the season.

Nice to have you back Harry.Which segues perfectly into this lovely piece by JimHats off to Hampshire for an impressive collapse over at Chelmsford – from 217 for five to 235 all out.And a ninth wicket at OT, Mitch Stanley bowled by the tireless TRJ.Another enthusiastic round of applause for Jimmy Anderson.Lancs 197-9.

Hmmm, what I’ve just written for first edition may look a little dated – Yorkshire also struggling at Edgbaston, 38 for three, which is a cue for Harry Brook’s first innings of the season.Some bad light coincided with tea here at OT, where Middlesex are continuing to impress.Lancs now eight down – Bailey a second wicket for Seb Morgan.HPG’s dreamboat Chris Green 32 not out.Lancs 190-8.

Oh god, I forgot it is Friday – better write up quickly for first edition – back soon.A couple of wickets in consecutive balls will cheer Kent up – Ben Charlesworth for 85 and Miles Hammond for 12.Glos 173-4.TRJ with the big one! Jennings is tempted and a lovely ball gets a sliver of an edge and into the gloves.A wicket maiden, Jennings gone for 68.

Lancs 151-6.This is a very good day’s work for Yorkshire – Warwickshire now nine down for 129.Three wickets for White, two each for Hill, Cliff and van Beek.Oh! A drop! Green on 13 dropped by Morgan at mid off, who has been so immaculate with the ball.He pulls the brim of his cap down over his eyes as he walks away and is now chewing his hand down by the pavilion rope.

A second wicket for young Norton in Cardiff, Archie Vaughan for 17.Somerset 171-4.And shuffle off Matty Hurst must here at OT, gathered in the bread basket by Ryan Higgins at slip.Lovely rhythmic bowling by Sharma.An enthusiastic round of applause for the first appearance of Chris Green, short of sleeve and handsome of stroll.

Lancs 129-5.Bad light and a bit of mizzle has suspended things here at New Road...on comes the tractor with the covers trailing behind.

Some bits of county admin from last week – Jake Lintott will leave Warwicks at the end of the season, and Duanne Olivier has joined Durham early as a replacement for Kemar Roach, who picked up a hamstring injury against Middlesex and has gone home.Fifty up for Adam Hose, who has helped rebuild the Worcestershire innings in a little-and-large (large-and-little partnership) with Brett D’Oliveira.Hose offered one chance to slip on 28 - low and put down by Kasey Aldridge - but has played nicely otherwise.Worcs 136-4 with just the odd spot of rain in the air.Lammonby and Thomas aren’t going well for Somerset any more.

In fact, they’re both out.Lammonby a first wicket for Glamorgan debutant Tom Norton, who is surrounded by teammates and has his head patted like a good dog.Somerset 159-3.England U-19 Seb Morgan, who still looks like a slip of a boys, bowls a succession of cracking deliveries and gets his reward as Jones loses his off stump.Lancs 115-4.

Warwickshire are having something of a shocker – now 102 for seven.Rock Sam Hain (57) a second catch for Harry Brook, a third wicket for Jack White.Zen Malik follows in the next over.Loving the size and boldness of the numbers on the Middlesex shirts, very helpful for those of us who need to clean our glasses.The slips line up in a pleasing line.

Jones drives Higgins, nicely down the ground.Gentle applause.Not a bad crowd in todayThe school children have drifted off now, tbh a good time had by all with the climbing wall, remote control cars, (fake) red rose tattoos and of course Jennings’ 52 not out.Holding things together as usual.Lancs 101-3.

A nice way for Somerset to celebrate getting back out after lunch, a hundred run partnership between young Josh Thomas (another fifty) and Tom Lammonby (his highest score of the season - 44).Somerset 123-1.No sign of Mason Crane bowling yet.DIVISION ONEChelmsford: Essex v Hampshire 88-4Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Somerset 104-1Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 105-3 v SurreyHove: Sussex v Leicestershire 110-2Edgbaston: Warwickshire 80-5 v YorkshireDIVISION TWOThe County Ground: Derbyshire 104-0 v NorthamptonshireBristol: Gloucestershire 96-1 v KentOld Trafford: Lancashire 78-3 v MiddlesexNew Road: Worcestershire 93-4 v Durham…and a comprehensive victory for the Burnley Bee.The mascots get ready…Huge cheers for Lanky here at OT as he warms up for the mascot race, meanwhile Marcus Harris is back in the pavilion contemplating his shoelaces after lifting TRJ to midwicket where Naavya Sharma makes a tricky catch look easy.

Lancs 78-3 and that’s lunch.Big Benji’s second spell is underway at New Road but so far Adam Hose has held firm, save for one delivery that struck him in the box.You never quite know what the pitch here will do after the annual floods have receded but there is a bit of bounce in this one – certainly accounting for Lategan early on, and the caught and bowled off Gareth Roderick that saw Ben Raine pick up his second wicket.Worcs 77 for four as Hose squirts one throug the offside for a couple.Those Lancs fans with a Telegraph subscription – not sure how big that venn diagram is – might be interested in Will Macpherson’s summing up of the rebel-club situation.

The most surprising detail in it is that each Special General Meeting costs the club £30,000…Also, for those who have missed the news, Lancs have backtracked on charging for the live stream.The new policy is a free two-fixed camera YouTube stream for all, with premium coverage for members and anyone else who buys a seasonal pass – all still in development.In Division TwoLuis Reece and Harry Came are looking settled after last week’s calamitous Derby collapse to Kent – Derby 80-0 against NorthantsAnd a wicket for deserving Middlesex here at OT.Ryan Higgins returns from the Jimmy Anderson and Bohannon is duly caught, nibbling, behind for 15.Lancs 69-2.

Ben Charlesworth, (heading to OT next season) is 42 not out in Gloucestershire’s 80-1 v Kent.And a recovery of sorts for Worcestershire against Durham.They were 40-3, now 71-4.Two wickets for Raine, one for Stokes.In Division One:Jake Lehman and Ben Mayes are rescuing Hampshire from Essex’s early onslaught – Hants 59-3