County Cricket - Live!

10.34am It's a dank morning in the capital of culture, writes Andy Wilson, and after heavy rain fell for most of yesterday the start will definitely be delayed - frustrating both for title-chasing Kent and relegation-threatened Lancs. The umpires, John Holder and Jeff Evans, are inspecting as we speak, but they are hopeful that we will have some play today, which would represent progress from the last championship game on a Lancashire out ground, the complete wash-out against Surrey at Blackpool last month.

One significant change in the Lancashire team is the absence of Dominic Cork, the first championship match he's missed since the club announced his contract would not be renewed. That's got to make sense in terms of team spirit and long-term planning, although it leaves Glen Chapple leading an otherwise callow seam attack comprising Tom Smith, Oliver Newby and Steven Croft. Kent have omitted Neil Dexter after the South African rejected their new contract offer ahead of an expected move to Middlesex, but are otherwise at full strength.