IN A mere seven days time Yorkshire will start their assault on the County Championship crown.
The promoted Tykes will take on Sussex at Headingley and there would appear to be a good chance they so with some of the county still under snow.
While there is obviously a possibility of a thaw over the next week, it is more likely with the cold snap predicted to continue by the weathermen that there will be no hardness in the wicket at Leeds other than frost.
Strangely time should have been on the county competition’s side this year with a relatively late start to the season.
Last year cricketers in the south opened the county season on the last day of March in sunshine that demanded factor 50 and on grounds where there were already rumblings among those preparing the pitches that a drought could pose problems.
This season in the second week in April in the north there is every chance that batsmen will struggle to pick out fielders as their whites see them camouflaged against the snow piled up round the boundary edge.
But, being serious, for Yorkshire the weather could spell trouble in terms of lost games – and hence lost points – early in the season and potential problems in terms of ground conditions as the thaw sets in.
At least the Tykes’ trip to Barbados for their pre-season preparation has certainly been a smart move and got them some playing time, as there is every chance that their final preparation match which is due to start on Friday against the Leeds-Bradford MCCU Universities side at Headingley may not prove much use – if it gets played at all.
