LIVE BLOG: Lancashire v Essex, Day One
The latest news from our LV= County Championship match against Essex at Stanley Park, Blackpool.
5.40pm, CLOSE Day 1
Essex 1st inns: 12-1 (4.4 overs) A. Cook 4, Westley 8
What a crazy day!
Rain has now returned to finish proceedings for the day.
5.32pm
Essex 1st inns: 12-1 (4.4 overs) A. Cook 4, Westley 8
Oh no! After three balls have been bowled we are coming off for bad light.
5.30pm
Essex 1st inns: 12-1 (4.1 overs) A. Cook 4, Westley 8
After more than six hours of waiting, play is back under way with Tom Bailey resuming his over.
Unfortunately there are some quite threatening looking clouds around too.
5.00pm, PLAY TO RESUME AT 5.30pm
Essex 1st inns: 12-1 (4.1 overs) A. Cook 4, Westley 8
The umpires are happy with conditions and play will resume at 5.30pm with a minimum of 16 overs to be bowled.
4.30pm, RAIN STOPPED PLAY
Essex 1st inns: 12-1 (4.1 overs) A. Cook 4, Westley 8
Following the umpires inspection, there will be a further inspection at 5pm and providing conditions at that time are satisfactory it is hoped to restart at 5.30pm with a minimum of 16 overs to be bowled.
The overhead conditions have brightened considerably this afternoon but it remains very cloudy.
3.30pm, RAIN STOPPED PLAY
Essex 1st inns: 12-1 (4.1 overs) A. Cook 4, Westley 8
The umpires have made another inspection and with conditions improving have decided to make a further inspection at 4.30pm.
2.45pm, RAIN STOPPED PLAY
Essex 1st inns: 12-1 (4.1 overs) A. Cook 4, Westley 8
The rain has stopped and the umpires have just made an inspection.
An early tea will be taken at 3.10pm at which time the umpires will return to make a further inspection.
2.00pm, RAIN STOPPED PLAY
Essex 1st inns: 12-1 (4.1 overs) A. Cook 4, Westley 8
The update is that things, sadly, have not changed much in the last two hours with heavy rain continuing to fall.
1.00pm, LUNCH Day 1
Essex 1st inns: 12-1 (4.1 overs) A. Cook 4, Westley 8
We are officially at lunch but there is no prospect of play after the interval as the rain is now very heavy indeed.
12.00pm, RAIN STOPPED PLAY
Essex 1st inns: 12-1 (4.1 overs) A. Cook 4, Westley 8
I'm afraid the rain is slowly but steadily getting heavier and prospects of any more play before lunch look remote.
11.19am, RAIN STOPPED PLAY
Essex 1st inns: 12-1 (4.1 overs) A. Cook 4, Westley 8
One ball into the fifth over and play has halted due to rain.
The rain is not too heavy but the covers are going on for now.
11.10am
Essex 1st inns: 3-1 (2 overs) A. Cook 0, Lawrence 0
A great start by Tom Bailey who gets a wicket with his fourth ball!
Nick Browne pushed forward defensively but got an edge that flew to Colin de Grandhomme at third slip.
11.00am
Essex 0-0 (0 overs) A.Cook 0, Browne 0
I'm pleased to say the rain has gone for now and Tom Bailey is ready to bowl the first ball of what is the 100th first-class match to be played at Stanley Park.
10.40am
Straightafter the toss and the teams have been announced, it has started to rain.
The rain is fairly light drizzle so we remain hopeful of starting once this shower passes.
10.30am, TOSS & TEAM NEWS
Essex have won the toss and have elected to bat.
TEAMS
Lancashire: Keaton Jennings (capt), Luke Wells, Josh Bohannon, Dane Vilas, Rob Jones, Phil Salt (wkt), Colin De Grandhomme, Tom Bailey, Jack Blatherwick, Tom Hartley, Will Williams.
Essex: Alastair Cook, Nick Browne, Tom Westley (capt), Dan Lawrence, Matt Critchley, Paul Walter, Simon Harmer, Will Buttleman (wkt), Doug Bracewell, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.
9.30am
Good morning from Blackpool ahead of our LV= Insurance County Championship match with Essex.
We have a nice sunny morning presently at Stanley Park ahead of the start of play at 11am.
Team news
Both teams have made changes to their squads from the last round of Championship matches.
Daryl Mitchell has been managing a tight groin throughout recent matches and it has been agreed alongside New Zealand Cricket that he will be rested for this week’s game against Essex - in order to manage his workload.
Mitchell will be available for selection once again for next week’s County Championship match away to Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Lancashire squad:
Keaton Jennings (capt), Tom Bailey, George Balderson, George Bell, Jack Blatherwick, Josh Bohannon, Colin De Grandhomme, Tom Hartley, Rob Jones, Jack Morley, Phil Salt (wkt), Dane Vilas, Luke Wells, Will Williams, Luke Wood.
Robin Das has replaced Feroze Khushi in the one change to the Essex squad.
Essex squad:
Alastair Cook, Robin Das, Tom Westley (capt), Dan Lawrence, Matt Critchley, Paul Walter, Simon Harmer, Will Buttleman (wkt), Doug Bracewell, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter, Nick Browne, Shane Snater.
