Andrew Strauss suffered a setback in his warm-up for England duty when he was dismissed for a single in Middlesex's LV= County Championship Division Two match against Worcestershire at New Road on the first day of the new season.

The England captain went for a big hit off young paceman Richard Jones and was caught behind by Ben Scott, who was making his debut for the hosts following a loan move from Lord's.

Strauss' early departure followed the exploits of England's latest pace prospect Steven Finn who had curbed Worcestershire's progress by taking five for 69 after an opening century stand between Daryl Mitchell and Phil Jaques.

Mitchell was among Finn's victims after top-scoring with 85 in Worcestershire's total of 287.

By the close Middlesex were 12 for one with Strauss having faced 11 balls in a 12-minute spell at the crease.

Andrew Gale's first decision as a new captain paid off as Yorkshire secured maximum bowling points by tea against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

The opening day of the Division One meeting went Gale's way when he won the toss and received maximum support from his quartet of seamers in dismissing the home side for 217.

Warwickshire lost seven wickets in 30 overs in the afternoon session after England pair Ajmal Shahzad and Tim Bresnan had removed Varun Chopra and national team colleague Ian Bell in the morning with Jonathan Trott falling to Steve Patterson as the hosts made 95 for three at lunch.

On the resumption, Warwickshire lost Ian Westwood for 39 with just four more on the board before losing the rest of their wickets for 118. Neil Carter made 41 and Jim Troughton 39 but it was Shahzad (three for 40), Patterson (three for 51) and Bresnan, with a double, who dominated.

At stumps Yorkshire were 128 for three, Joe Sayers making 50.

Billy Godleman just failed to mark his Essex debut with a century as Hampshire were made to work hard for wickets after putting in their rivals at Chelmsford.

The 21-year-old left-handed opener made 92 as Essex closed on 325 for seven, with Matt Walker and James Foster also posting half centuries.

Godleman was denied his 100 when he was bowled by left-arm spinner Danny Briggs while attempting to turn the ball away on the leg side.

Relegated side Sussex had a sobering welcome to Division Two as they were reduced to 284 all out at Glamorgan.

Returning after lunch at 111 for three, the visitors added 24 further runs before Murray Goodwin fell for 30.

Wickets fell at regular intervals thereafter with Robin Martin-Jenkins providing the sternest resistance but when he fell for 65 it was all over.

James Harris was most destructive for the hosts, taking four for 68 with Dean Cosker finishing on three for 43 at Cardiff.

Leicestershire had a highly-productive second session as they finished the first day of their clash with Northamptonshire on 303 for five.

Resuming on 74 for two at lunch, the Foxes lost the wickets of Matthew Boyce (47), Joshua Cobb (27) and James Taylor (88) to reach 193 for five.

An unbeaten stand of 110 by Tom New (59 not out) and Wayne White (52no) have set the hosts on course for an impressive total.

Derbyshire captain Chris Rogers started the season pretty much as he finished the last by scoring an unbeaten 178 that helped the visitors reach 306 for five and claim the opening-day honours over a new-look Surrey.

In his first innings since a fractured left hand forced him to miss the Sheffield Shield final, the Victorian clattered 25 boundaries in a six-hour virtuoso performance through to stumps.