The fourth round of the LV= County Championship sees some tasty clashes, with Middlesex and Yorkshire locking horns at Lord’s off the back of wins in their previous games, and Somerset having a tricky trip to Division One leaders Sussex. In Division Two, big-hitters Hampshire and Surrey do battle in Southampton.

by Daniel Grummitt

Division One - latest standings

Middlesex v Yorkshire at Lord’s

The hosts are likely to hand a recall to either Neil Dexter of Joe Denly after Gareth Berg picked up a shoulder injury in the win over Nottinghamshire. Ollie Rayner or Toby Roland-Jones will take the final starting spot depending on conditions.

Middlesex squad: Chris Rogers (captain), Sam Robson, Dawid Malan, Neil Dexter, Eoin Morgan, Adam Rossington, John Simpson (wicket-keeper), Ollie Rayner, James Harris, Tim Murtagh, Steven Finn, Joe Denly, Toby Roland-Jones.

Yorkshire have a major selection dilemma ahead of their trip to Lord’s caused by the return of England batsman Joe Root from his thumb injury. Root hit a half-century in his comeback match for the second XI but who he will replace in the impressive Yorkshire batting line-up remains to be seen. Skipper Andrew Gale is the only one of the top six not to have registered at least one half-century so far this season and has hinted that he may yet leave himself out of the starting eleven. If he does so then Gary Ballance will lead the side. Other men who could make way are Adil Rashid, Alex Lees or Adam Lyth. Elsewhere, Richard Pyrah has replaced Moin Ashraf in a 13-man squad.

Yorkshire squad: Alex Lees, Adam Lyth, Joe Root, Kane Williamson, Gary Ballance, Andrew Gale (captain), Adil Rashid, Andrew Hodd (wicket-keeper), Liam Plunkett, Ryan Sidebottom, Steve Patterson, Jack Brooks, Richard Pyrah.

Northamptonshire v Lancashire at Wantage Road

David Sales is still unavailable for strugglers Northamptonshire as he continues a slow recovery from injury. Therefore there are no changes to the 12-man squad from the side that lost heavily to Yorkshire, with Olly Stone again likely to be 12^th man.

Northamptonshire squad: Stephen Peters (captain), James Middlebrook, Kyle Coetzer, Matthew Spriegel, Rob Newton, Andrew Hall, David Willey, Steven Crook, David Murphy (wicket-keeper), Maurice Chambers, Mohammad Azharullah, Olly Stone.

Lancashire enter a new era following the departure of Peter Moores, with Glen Chapple named as first-team coach for the remainder of the season in addition to his role as club captain. He will lead a side that sits bottom of the table and has displayed a worrying fragility with the bat already this season. Steven Croft may yet strengthen the line-up after being included following 197 in a second XI game this week. He replaces Karl Brown in the 14-man squad.

Lancashire squad: Paul Horton, Luis Reece, Andrea Agathangelou, Ashwell Prince, Luke Procter, Jos Buttler (wicket-keeper), Tom Smith, Wayne White, Glen Chapple (captain), Simon Kerrigan, James Anderson, Steven Croft, Kabir Ali, Kyle Jarvis.

Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire at Trent Bridge

The hosts enjoyed an excellent first round win over Lancashire, but came up against a resurgent Middlesex last time out. They have an injury concern over their captain Chris Read, who has had an injection in his shoulder according to the Nottingham Post. The paper also reports that Andre Adams and Ajmal Shahzad are unlikely to be considered for selection as they make their ways back from calf and groin problems respectively.

Warwickshire have endured a poor start to the season as they battle against multiple injuries. Boyd Rankin does return for the trip to Trent Bridge and has replaced Richard Jones in a 13-man squad and quite probably Oliver Hannon-Dalby in the final eleven. Academy graduate and former Leeds/Bradford MCCU player Jonathon Webb takes Sam Hain’s place as the squad’s spare batsman.

Warwickshire squad: Varun Chopra, William Porterfield, Laurie Evans, Ian Bell (captain), Ateeq Javid, Tim Ambrose (wicket-keeper), Chris Woakes, Keith Barker, Jeetan Patel, Chris Wright, Boyd Rankin, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Jonathon Webb.

Sussex v Somerset at Hove

Strong-starters Sussex are bolstered by the return from a side strain of Luke Wright, although Matt Prior (Achilles) and Chris Nash (ruptured appendix) are still not fit. Wright will presumably replace Rory Hamilton-Brown in the eleven from that which beat Warwickshire last time out unless a specialist spinner is deemed surplus to requirements. Steffan Piolet is also included in the 13-man squad, as is Chris Jordan, who recently signed a two-year contract extension with the club.

Sussex squad: Ed Joyce (captain), Luke Wells, Michael Yardy, Matt Machan, Luke Wright, Ashar Zaidi, Ben Brown (wicket-keeper), Chris Jordan, James Anyon, Steve Magoffin, Jon Lewis, Rory Hamilton-Brown, Steffan Piolet.

Somerset have named Craig Overton and Alfonso Thomas in their 14-man squad after the pair missed the draw with Durham due to injury. Craig Meschede, though, is not included after picking up a rib injury during that match. George Dockrell is unlikely play in what are expected to be seam-friendly conditions, with 2013 Second XI Player of the Year Tom Abell also included in the party.

Somerset squad: Marcus Trescothick (captain), Chris Jones, Nick Compton, Alviro Petersen, James Hildreth, Craig Kieswetter (wicket-keeper), Johann Myburgh, Peter Trego, Lewis Gregory, Alfonso Thomas, Jamie Overton, Craig Overton, George Dockrell, Tom Abell.

Division Two - latest standings

Gloucestershire v Essex at Bristol

The home side had the better of the draw against Glamorgan, but have been dealt a blow with the news that David Payne has been ruled out of this match due to a bruised heel. Ian Saxelby is almost certain to replace him in the starting eleven, with Graeme McCarter likely to be named as 12^th man. The club are urging supporters on Sunday to wear red to show support for Bristol and Avon Multiple Sclerosis Centre (BrAMS).

Gloucestershire squad: Michael Klinger (captain), Chris Dent, Will Tavare, Alex Gidman, Hamish Marshall, Will Gidman, Cameron Herring (wicket-keeper), Tom Smith, James Fuller, Ian Saxelby, Matt Taylor, Graeme McCarter.

Essex are another side struggling with injuries, with Sajid Mahmood, (side strain), Matt Salisbury (back) and Reece Topley (stress fracture) all out, leaving coach Paul Grayson to name and unchanged eleven as they travel to Bristol.

Essex XI: Alastair Cook, Jaik Mickleburgh, Tom Westley, Ravi Bopara, Ben Foakes, Greg Smith, James Foster (captain, wicket-keeper), Graham Napier, David Masters, Monty Panesar, Tymal Mills.

Hampshire v Surrey at Southampton

Table-toppers Hampshire have named an unchanged 13-man squad as they aim to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches in the LV= County Championship. Adam Wheater is still sidelined by a hand injury, so Michael Bates again dons the gloves.

Hampshire squad: Michael Carberry, Jimmy Adams (captain), Liam Dawson, James Vince, Will Smith, Joe Gatting, Sean Ervine, Michael Bates (wicket-keeper), Matt Coles, Kyle Abbott, James Tomlinson, David Balcombe, Danny Briggs.

Surrey have made one change to their 12-man squad, with Chris Tremlett unavailable due to a back injury and replaced in the squad by opener Arun Harinath, but probably in the starting eleven by Tom Curran. Zafar Ansari appears to have recovered from his blow to the head against Essex and should take his place at number four.

Surrey squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Zafar Ansari, Steven Davies (wicket-keeper), Gary Wilson, Jason Roy, Tom Curran, Stuart Meaker, Jade Dernbach, Matt Dunn, Arun Harinath.

Leicestershire v Glamorgan at Grace Road

The Foxes are still without injured skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan (back) as they host Glamorgan, with Nathan Buck added to the eleven that began the season at Canterbury. Dan Redfern (finger) and Shiv Thakor (finger) are again ruled out.

Leicestershire squad: Greg Smith, Matthew Boyce, Ned Eckersley, Angus Robson, Josh Cobb (captain), Niall O’Brien (wicket-keeper), Ben Raine, Rob Taylor, Jigar Naik, Anthony Ireland, Charlie Shreck, Nathan Buck.

Glamorgan will hope to bounce back from a disappointing draw against Gloucestershire, but will have to make at least two changes to their bowling attack. Ruaidhri Smith is preparing for his exams at Bristol University, while Michael Hogan has returned to Australia on paternity leave. Will Owen and John Glover are their likely replacements, with batsman David Lloyd also included in the 12-strong party.

Glamorgan squad: Gareth Rees, Will Bragg, Stewart Walters, Jacques Rudolph, Murray Goodwin, Jim Allenby, Mark Wallace (captain, wicket-keeper), Graham Wagg, John Glover, Will Owen, Dean Cosker, David Lloyd.

Worcestershire v Derbyshire at New Road

Worcestershire have had a surprisingly strong start to the 2014 season after having been tipped pre-season for the wooden spoon by some. They will be further bolstered for their hosting of promotion hopefuls Derbyshire by the arrival of overseas player Saeed Ajmal. He has replaced Shaaiq Choudhry in the starting eleven, with Charlie Morris again preferred to Chris Russell.

Worcestershire XI: Daryl Mitchell (captain), Matthew Pardoe, Moeen Ali, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Alexei Kervezee, Ross Whiteley, Ben Cox (wicket-keeper), Gareth Andrew, Jack Shantry, Saeed Ajmal, Charlie Morris.

Derbyshire desperately need a win of they are to mount a promotion challenge. They have been dealt a blow with the news that wicket-keeper Richard Johnson is unavailable due to illness. That has meant that Dan Hodgson has had to be drafted in on loan from Yorkshire at short notice. Spinner David Wainwright and fast-bowler Mark Turner are expected to battle for the final place in the starting eleven.

Derbyshire squad: Stephen Moore, Billy Godleman, Wayne Madsen (captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chesney Hughes, Wes Durston, Dan Hodgson (wicket-keeper), Tony Palladino, Tim Groenewald, Mark Turner, Mark Footitt, David Wainwright.

Weather Forecast: Unsettled best sums up the weather for the coming four days, with showers likely just about anywhere. Temperatures will also be relatively subdued, peaking at no higher than around 16 degrees Celsius under mainly cloudy skies.

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Daniel Grummitt

Cricket Writer at World Cricket Badger

Daniel first began writing about cricket in 2011, having been a fan of the game ever since his Grandad introduced him to it at the age of 10.

He worked for CricketWorld.com for almost three years, leading their county and domestic cricket coverage and contributing to a book about the 2012 ICC World Twenty20, before joining the hugely ambitious World Cricket Badger early in 2014.

The first Test that he remembers watching was on Channel 4 - back before the ECB marginalised potential future fans by selling the TV rights to Sky Sports - when England beat Pakistan by an innings and nine runs at Lord’s.

Besides a passion for domestic cricket, he also has an unexplainable interest in all things Zimbabwe cricket!

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