Hooper cleared to make debut for Lancashire

Kent have kept faith with the squad that travelled to Chelmsford for the National League clash with Essex on Sunday. David Fulton and Min Patel continue their recoveries from eye and back operations respectively, while Amjad Khan remains sidelined by shin problems. Ben Gannon, left out of Middlesex's rain-affected draw with Lancashire, could replace the legspinner Imran Tahir, depending on the state of the Canterbury wicket.

Andrew Flintoff is struggling with an arm injury and may miss out, but Gary Keedy should keep his place after figures of 6 for 68 against Middlesex last week. Kyle Hogg is still out with a torn calf muscle. Carl Hooper will make his Lancashire debut after receiving clearance to play from the England & Wales Cricket Board. Darren Robinson is ruled out of Essex's team with a calf injury, which means Rav Bopara, 18, is set for his first appearance of the season.

Rikki Clarke replaces Alex Tudor, who faces a scan on his troublesome knee. Ian Salisbury is also named in the 12-man squad after recovering from a finger injury, but Graham Thorpe is overlooked for the third consecutive championship match. Virender Sehwag, Darren Stevens and Charlie Dagnall return to Leicestershire's team, and Phil DeFreitas has shaken off a back problem.

Injury problems continue to dog Durham's season, with Paul Collingwood (shoulder), Dewald Pretorius (thigh), Mark Davies (lung) and Nicky Hatch (Achilles) all unavailable. Javagal Srinath is recalled after being rested for the near-embarrassment against Durham UCCE last week. Graeme Hick and Nantie Hayward return for Worcestershire - they both opted out of the tied tour match against Zimbabwe. Steve Rhodes returns at the expense of Jamie Pipe, while the South African allrounder Andrew Hall makes his championship debut.

Gloucestershire have named an unchanged side after their six-wicket victory over Glamorgan strengthened their position at the top of the Second Division. Hampshire are expected to rest Wasim Akram, with James Tomlinson, another left-arm seamer, taking his place. Tomlinson, 20, has been drafted into the squad from Cardiff UCCE, as cover for Ed Giddins who is recovering from a rib injury.

Mike Hussey, Andre Nel, David Sales, Phil Jaques, Jeff Cook and Toby Bailey are all recalled by Northamptonshire, after that embarrassing midweek defeat against Cambridge UCCE. Neither Gerry Brophy or David Paynter are retained, despite both scoring centuries in that match. Chris Silverwood misses out for Yorkshire, after an elbow injury flared up during the heavy defeat by Derbyshire.

Peter Bowler and Aaron Laraman return to the Somerset side at the expense of Keith Dutch and Keith Parsons, who sat out that shock defeat by Scotland in the National League. Jonathan Hughes, who scored a century against Somerset in a pre-season friendly, will make his first appearance of the season for Glamorgan. He replaces Andrew Davies.