The County Championship season was due to start on Sunday, April 12, but with the coronavirus pandemic sending the UK into lockdown, things had to be done a little differently…

Middlesex openers Sam Robson and Nick Gubbins were due to start the season against Worcestershire at Lord's. Instead, chaos ensued in their front rooms.

An Oscar-worthy performance from the @Middlesex_CCC openers

How will you face the first ball of the season on Sunday?#CountyChampAtHome #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/OMtQqsGlYx

— County Championship (@CountyChamp) April 10, 2020

But Worcestershire's reply was hardly much better, as Daryl Mitchell copped a rough lbw decision from his daughter.

Different venue, similar result! #ShouldbeatLords @CountyChamp #CountyChampAtHome pic.twitter.com/7YP9lAJtA7

— Daryl Mitchell (@mitchwccc) April 12, 2020

Graham Onions had been hoping to open the bowling to Joe Denly in Lancashire's scheduled game against Kent, and the two had differing reconstructions of how things might have panned out.

.@joed1986 faces the first ball of the @CountyChamp season in #SuperKent kit

Tag us in your efforts and we'll share the best #CountyChampAtHome pic.twitter.com/HLbbRdTM0f

— Kent Cricket (at ) (@KentCricket) April 12, 2020

First ball of the season. Couldn't let @joed1986 get away with it this year @CountyChamp #CountyChampAtHome pic.twitter.com/XjtdjAhTkU

— Graham Onions (@BunnyOnions) April 12, 2020

Sussex's Ben Brown trusted the overhead conditions despite a decent covering of grass on the pitch.

We're batting lads @SussexCCC @CountyChamp pic.twitter.com/qssMQGgOkU

— Ben Brown (@Ben_Brown26) April 12, 2020

Essex's Sam Cook looked rusty after a shortened pre-season.

Pretty standard first ball of the season, rank loosener dispatched accordingly to the rope @CountyChamp #CountyChampAtHome pic.twitter.com/nkhVdVzYUE

— Sam Cook (@samcook09) April 12, 2020

Hassan Azad got up and running for the season.

Off the mark in the Champo! @CountyChamp pic.twitter.com/SefUoNGbQ7

— Hassan Azad (@Bat_Pad_Man) April 12, 2020

But there was disappointment for both Tammy Beaumont and Ollie Hannon-Dalby.

First ball of the season for @Tammy_Beaumont and it's a tricky one

Head over to @CountyChamp and take on the first delivery#CountyChampAtHome pic.twitter.com/4RueAe3nUd

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) April 12, 2020

#CountyChampAtHome

The Bears are in the field and @OHD_20 takes the new ball...

#YouBears pic.twitter.com/cjyqIBIRM7

— Warwickshire CCC (@WarwickshireCCC) April 12, 2020

While Dom Bess and Matt Parkinson were left to reflect on life as a young English spinner on early season pitches.

Start of the @CountyChamp today, shame to miss out for @SomersetCCC who have gone with 1 spinner. Batting 1st and time to fill them up, 40 mins in and going well! How you going up there @mattyparky96 @cal_parky #spinnersunion @bib_life pic.twitter.com/hgs5F5M6SE

— Dom Bess (@DomBess99) April 12, 2020

Thanks @DomBess99. Green one @EmiratesOT for the opening @CountyChamp so 4 seamers. Still 0 down here, so going well, 3rd coffee of the day and feet up for an hour how you going? @mattcritchley96 @JoshPoysden14 #spinnersunion #biblife pic.twitter.com/7F6MnKsXe4

— Matt Parkinson (@mattyparky96) April 12, 2020