Surrey v Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire v Durham and more: county cricket – live

Key events10m agoDivision Two table11m agoDivision One table11m agoPreamble11m agoFixtures11m agoHappy retirement Keith BarkerDivision Two table1 Durham 1492 Kent 1173 Northants 1154 Middlesex 995 Derbyshire 996 Worcestershire 957 Lancashire 818 Gloucestershire 38Division One table 1 Notts 1162 Somerset 1113 Warwickshire 1114 Glamorgan 1075 Sussex 1056 Essex 1057 Surrey 918 Yorkshire 899 Hampshire 7210 Leicestershire 72Happy retirement Keith BarkerGolden arm: Keith Barker Photograph: Warren Little/Getty ImagesAfter 17 seasons, Keith Barker has finally hung up his boots after being troubled by injury. He started his career at Warwickshire and then had seven magnificent years at Hampshire before returning to Edgbaston last year.“I always knew this day would come, but that doesn’t make it any easier. In my head I still want to compete, still want the ball in my hand and still believe I can make a difference. Unfortunately, after a long career and plenty of injuries, my body is telling me it’s time.“To finish my career where it started, in a city that became my home and at a club that will always mean so much to me, feels incredibly special.“I’m going to miss playing more than I can put into words, but I’ll walk away proud, grateful and thankful to everyone who has been part of the journey.”He was always so fun to watch and a pleasure to speak to pre season a few years ago. Wishing him a happy retirement.FixturesDIVISION ONESouthampton: Hampshire v YorkshireGrace Road: Leicestershire v GlamorganTaunton: Somerset v EssexThe Oval: Surrey v NottinghamshireEdgbaston: Warwickshire v SussexDIVISION TWODerby: Derbyshire v DurhamCheltenham: Gloucestershire v WorcestershireOld Trafford: Lancashire v NorthamptonshireMerchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex v KentPreambleHello! We’re back and.. it’s belting down. Or at least it was but, by the magic of Darren Stevens, the slate of Stoke on Trent has, after Uttoxeter, faded to fluffy clouds and milky skies as I head to Derby to start this round of fixtures much as I ended the last block – on Stokes watch.This is the first of six helter-skelter rounds of Championship cricket which will finally slow to a stop on 27 September. By then we will have a Championship winner, two relegated Division One teams and two happily promoted clubs from Division Two. Thrillingly, nothing is yet set in stone (though Durham look likely to be playing top tier cricket next year) and it’s tight at the top of Division One.There are some intriguing fixtures to restart with – a relegation battle between Hampshire and Yorkshire, a repeat of last year’s big beast face-off at The Oval (only Surrey are seventh and there’s no Josh Tongue), and some jockeying for position at Edgbaston and Taunton. Glamorgan take on their fellow promoted team Leicestershire, though the form book says this will end only one way.In Division Two, Lancashire will have their work cut out turning around their Championship season against promotion-chasers Northants; fellow promotion chasers Kent are at Merchant Taylors School, while Durham visit Derby and Worcs and Glos hope the weather plays fair at gorgeous Cheltenham.Lots to love, six weeks to wallow. Do join us, all welcome. It begins.