LV= County Championship, Thursday June 7

They've not quite given up on getting back out in the middle again at Chester-le-Street, so feel free to keep discussing the action below the line, but we've got reports in from most of today's matches on our County Championship site. Head over thataway to catch up on what sodden action there was and do pop back on Friday for what will hopefully be a less pluvial experience. Cheerio!

As my colleague Mr Gardner has observed, the weather has already claimed four abandonments round the country. This is a fast-draining ground but there is nothing that suggests an imminent end to the rain and there seems every chance this will go the same way as Horsham, Colwyn Bay, Tunbridge Wells and Northampton, where they have already packed up and gone home.

Since lunch there have been 12 minutes of play and 12 runs added, of which not a great deal can be said, although Simon Kerrigan did hit a four, which cannot happen too often, judging by a career average of 7.27 and a career aggregate of 160, of which 40 runs came in one innings as Lancashire clinched the title at Taunton last September.

With stumps already called at Horsham, Northampton, Tunbridge Wells and Colwyn Bay, it seems a good moment to link to Kenny Shovel’s impassioned plea for the weather to relent and allow some cricket to be played.

There’s currently no action anywhere, though Durham and Derbyshire have extended their advantages today. Still searching for a first Championship win of the season, Durham are 227 ahead against Warwickshire with three wickets standing; Paul Collingwood has dug in for 29 not out and, in a low-scoring game, that’s a handy lead, should the weather allow further play. Derbyshire, meanwhile, added 68 for no loss, with Dan Redfern closing in on his third hundred of the season. They lead Leicestershire by 82 runs with five first-innings wickets remaining.

We've had some raining and the sheets are on but we've also had 75 minutes of cricket, which is 75 minutes more than the bleak forecast overnight was predicting.

Lancashire have picked up a second batting point and Notts a third for bowling but Ashwell Prince did not complete his second century in five innings against Notts. Having reached 80 with five boundaries and an escape on 51 he drove a touch airily at Andre Adams and was pouched at first slip by Alex Hales, who was the man who dropped him yesterday.

It gave Adams five wickets in an innings for the 14th time in the last three seasons for Notts and 600 first-class career victims, a third of which have come since the beginning of the 2010 season. Glen Chapple, who gave Prince good support in a stand of 40 for the seventh wicket, was then bowled by a grubber from Paul Franks (501 career first-class wickets) and Ajmal Shahzad caught behind off the left-armer, Harry Gurney.

Yesterday, I very nearly lamented that the splendid kitchen here didn't offer fish as often of they once did. Good job I held back - today they're serving up a cracking Cajun roasted salmon.

Oh the frustration of it all. The players are off again at The Nevill in Tunbridge Wells where Hampshire have limped through to 90 for 3 after 33.4 overs.

The stoic groundstaff have once again smothered the square in sheets in a bid to keep the deluge away from the pitch, but we look set for early lunch and a second afternoon of umpire inspections.

Despite seemingly ideal seam and swing bowling conditions the Kent attack have been blunted on the second morning as Simon Katich (43*) and Liam Dawson (22*) moved their obdurate fourth-wicket stand on to an unbroken 53.

Grey old day at Lord's but at least Middlesex and Somerset have been able to get some play in. The hosts have made a fairly sedate start (relative to yesterday afternoon) as they chase maximum points before sending the visitors back in.

Joe Denly, having pushed on to a century in support of Chris Rogers, is still at the crease for Middlesex, though Dawid Malan's enterprising 51 was ended by Craig Overton, who has been the most searching of Somerset's bowlers. Eoin Morgan had walked to the wicket to join Denly before the rain closed in.

The front that is hitting Edgbaston at its northern end is also crossing over St John's Wood, forcing the arrival of the covers. Depending on how long the showers last, Rogers may consider a declaration.

A couple of hours of solid rain this morning has put paid to a prompt resumption. Mopping up is under way. Forecast for later not great but there may be a window for some play provided the squelch factor is not too pronounced. Indeed, the announcer has just informed the 'crowd' that play will start at 11.40.

From where I'm sitting the 'crowd' amounts to about eight individuals, none of whom is sitting remotely close to anyone else. Of course there are probably huge numbers above me on the upper deck of the Radcliffe Road stand and a vast gathering waiting to pour out of the pavilion.

Normal service looks set to be resumed here at The Nevill in Tunbridge Wells today where play is due to start on time on the second day of this County Championship second division clash.

Just more than an hour’s play was possible on a drizzly and overcast Wednesday, when Hampshire limped to 50 for 3 having been inserted by home skipper Rob Key. With plentiful cloud cover, this tree lined ground is bound to help Kent’s swing bowlers on day two and Hampshire’s batsmen may find runs hard to come by.

The rain is causing pain for the summer game once again. Never mind the third Test, the County Championship - almost at the midpoint of the season - looks set to suffer too. From Durham to Horsham, the forecast is mucky all over. Still, weather watching is a national pastime time so, be it here on or on the England v West Indies commentary, we'll keep you up to date, drip-by-drip.

Reports from our correspondents around the grounds can be found on the county homepage. Then head back here armed with your views on Nick Knight, the Eurozone and the health of Prince Philip (that one's for Winter), for more idle chatter amongst the pitter-patter.