Joyce returns after ICC heroics

Division One

Gloucestershire v Surrey at Bristol
Gloucestershire enter the match without an overseas player with Upul Chandana back in Sri Lanka and Malinga Bandara not arriving until next week. Mark Ramprakash is still out with a broken thumb and Graham Thorpe will lead the side in the absence of Mark Butcher, who is not expect to be back into action until August. Alistair Brown took charge for the Twenty20 but Thorpe takes control for the Championship and is in need of some runs in his last first-class outing before the Lord's Test.

Middlesex v Hampshire at Southgate
Ed Joyce returns to boost Middlesex after powering Ireland to the World Cup at the ICC Trophy in Ireland. Alan Richardson also comes back into the side after resting for the Twenty20. Shane Warne returns for Hampshire after two weeks out while Dimitri Mascarenhas will undergo a late fitness test. Only 16 points separate the two teams and Middlesex have a game in hand.

Nottinghamshire v Glamorgan at Trent Bridge
Mark Footitt, a seam bowler, makes his first-class debut for Nottinghamshire against struggling Glamorgan. Stephen Fleming and Mark Ealham return to the side after missing some of the Twenty20 matches. Glamorgan have also called up a young seam bowler with Huw Waters, 18, in their 12-man squad. Alex Wharf and Adam Harrison both miss out with injuries sustained during the last couple of weeks. Glamorgan have lost seven out of eight Championship matches this season.

Division Two

Durham v Lancashire at Chester-le-Street
The return of Jon Lewis, Nathan Astle and Ashley Noffke given Durham an almost full strength squad as they aim to consolidate their position at the top of the table. Lancashire are now without Muttiah Muralitharan who is back in Sri Lanka but Kyle Hogg returns to the squad. Lancashire's batsmen have found some form in recent Twenty20 games and will be targeting revenge over Durham who comprehensively beat then at Old Trafford earlier this season.

Somerset v Leicestershire at Taunton
Charl Langeveldt will make his debut for Somerset, joining up with Graeme Smith, and replaces Gareth Andrew from the recent Twenty20 sides. Leicestershire will have Chris Rogers making his county debut, after joining as cover for Dinesh Mongia who is back at an Indian training camp. Darren Robinson, the opening batsmen, takes the place of Stuart Broad in the 12-man squad.

Worcestershire v Yorkshire at Worcester
Shoaib Akhtar faces a late fitness test while Steven Davies and Matt Mason return to the Worcestershire squad. Matthew Hoggard is recalled by Yorkshire after suffering some harsh treatment during the recent one-day action. Deon Kruis also bolsters the seam attack but Adam Warren or Richard Pyrah will miss out.