Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the County Championship...
Fixture: Middlesex v Somerset
Venue: Lord’s
Dates: Thursday, April 8, 2021-Sunday, April 11, 2021
Start time: 11am
What’s the lowdown?
Somerset once again go into a first-class campaign with a strong squad, looking to finally end their long wait for a title.
Last year, the West Country county made it all the way to the Bob Willlis Trophy final, where they drew with Essex, only to lose due to their opponents' first-innings lead.
Middlesex fans will be expecting to see progress under head coach Stuart Law and new captain Peter Handscomb, after coming third in their regional group in the Bob Willis Trophy last year.
They will come into this game confident having beaten Surrey in their final pre-season friendly, the seven-wicket success coming in no small part thanks to batting efforts from Stevie Eskinazi and Sam Robson.
What’s the team news?
Middlesex have named a 14-man squad for the fixture, and are without captain Handscomb. The Australian will not join the county until the third match of the season.
Stevie Eskinazi will take the reins in his absence.
Toby Roland-Jones is in the matchday 14 and ready to make up for several injury-plagued years. James Harris, the newly elected PCA chairman, misses out.
Middlesex squad: Stevie Eskinazi, Martin Andersson, Ethan Bamber, Blake Cullen, Jack Davies, Steven Finn, Nick Gubbins, Tom Helm, Max Holden, Tim Murtagh, Sam Robson, Toby Roland-Jones, John Simpson, Robbie White
Somerset will sadly start this season off without last year's leading T20 Blast wicket-taker Ollie Sale, who will have to undergo a second shoulder surgery. Tom Banton has been opening the batting in pre-season and may well get the nod at Lord's.
The Somerset squad for this fixture is as follows: Tom Abell, George Bartlett, Tom Banton, Eddie Byrom, Josh Davey, Steve Davies, Marchant de Lange, Lewis Gregory, James Hildreth, Tom Lammonby, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Roelof van der Merwe.
Who’s said what?
Somerset head coach Jason Kerr wants his team to take the memories of the Bob Willis Trophy final against Essex into the match.
He said: "If we play the brand of cricket we did (at Lord’s) in September, then that will definitely stand us in good stead for that first game".
What's the weather forecast?
The majority of the weekend should be cloudy and dry with temperatures not likely to rise above 12 degrees.
There is a chance of rain on Saturday throughout the day.
Keep up with the weather at Lord’s with the Met Office's rolling forecast. Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: The match will be available to view on Middlesex's enhanced live stream, which is available on the club’s website in the Match Centre section. Click here
The county's YouTube channel also carries the stream. Click here
Radio: BBC Local Radio and the BBC Sport website will carry ball-by-ball radio commentary of the game.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry daily updates from every County Championship match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Going to the game?
Tickets: This match is to be played behind closed doors owing to Covid-19 restrictions.
Travel: Not applicable owing to Covid-19 restrictions.
Prediction
Middlesex have a chance to make up for a difficult few years in 2021. If they can put together a decent first-innings total, don't put victory past them.
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OTHER MATCH PREVIEWS
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
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