Yorkshire v Essex, Emerald Headingley, Day One Lunch There was no play possible before lunch on day one of the Specsavers County Championship match between Yorkshire and Essex at Emerald Headingley.

Umpires Richard Illingworth and Ian Gould will inspect again at approximately 1.40pm, with the prospects of play for the rest of the day rated as slim at best.

Overnight and morning rain, added to the recent wet weather over the last fortnight in the Leeds area, has left the outfield in a particularly soggy state, with Yorkshire groundsman Andy Fogarty bemoaning a “nightmare” scenario.

When play does start, champions Essex will hand a debut to Australian overseas seamer Peter Siddle.

Despite naming Ben Coad in a 12-man squad, Yorkshire have this morning ruled him out as he recovers from a hip flexor problem. The plan is for him to play in a second-team match against Lancashire next week.

Josh Shaw and Matthew Waite will benefit from the county’s ongoing injury and unavailability crisis in the seam bowling department.