Key events
Inspection at 10.30 at Headingley. Feeling particularly sorry for Gloucestershire, whose last season was rain-ruined, and who have already been rained off at Derby for the day and whose chances of hosting their first home game against Yorkshire next week are already looking precarious.
The Cricketer/Timesâ Paul Edwards has given me a new season present, a copy of Ben and Imo by Mark Ravenhill, which he rates as a must-go-to play at Stratford, if you live anywhere near. But it only runs until tomorrow so you havenât got long. In return Iâve given him a hot-cross bun from local deli Barbakan.
No play before lunch at Hove and off for the day at Derby
Wet, wet, wetâ¦.
No play before lunch at Old Trafford
Have arrived at Old Trafford to find the covers on and no play before lunch.
Fixtures – Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire v Gloucestershire
Lordâs: Middlesex v Glamorgan
Hove: Sussex v Northamptonshire
Headingley: Yorkshire v Leicestershire
Fixtures – Division One
Chester le Street: Durham v Hampshire
Canterbury: Kent v Somerset
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Surrey
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Essex
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire
Preamble
Good morning! Welcome back long-time friends and a warm hello to anyone new poking their head around the door, who has a fancy for following the County Championship through this season.
Today, anything seems possible. Gloucestershire could be promoted; Kent could steal the pennant from under the well-funded noses of south London. For now, a glass raised to new starts, old dogs, stars born and friends made. Iâll be at Old Trafford shortly â the skies are ⦠frowning.
