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Leather, Willow, Rain … Cheerleaders!

April sunshine … this can surely not be the start of the domestic bliss of the cricket season? Where is the wind, drizzle, dark black clouds? Maybe they are waiting for tomorrow when the LV County Championship commences.

Now is it just me, or is the start of the season just getting earlier year on year? I’m sure that when I was a kid, there were only ever about 3 games left in the footie season when the white flannels came out to play … so either cricket is starting ridiculously early or football stupidly late … or of course a combination of both!!

Either way, April 9th heralds the start of the 2010 season. Most counties probably have no idea where their internationals are as those English centrally contracted players are most likely having a well deserved … oops, sorry, most likely having a break ordered by the powers that be. In addition to that, half of the world’s best are off at the IPL fattening their bank balances.

This leaves us with that special brand of cricketer, the good old English County Pro, to set their sights on the Silverware on offer in September. Each club will no doubt have a revolving door of overseas players, some staying for at least a fortnight, whilst some may even have their English test stars for about 3 First-Class fixtures!

Either way, the season, as ever, still begins amidst excitement and anticipation, and larger crowds will be evident, particularly at the newly extended Friends Provident T20. Quite frankly, I am a traditionalist and will always veer towards First-Class and Test Match Cricket, but there will always be a place for T20 Cheerleaders at any event!

As usual, there have been changes to the structure of Domestic Cricket. We mourned the end of an era, with the apparent conclusion of 40 Over cricket a few years back, due mainly to the fact that there was no cricket of that ilk Internationally. There is still no such cricket internationally, but we can joyfully await the new Clydesdale Bank 40, the new 21 team tournament which will produce the only Lord’s showpiece final of the year!

Despite the confusing thought processes, and only 3 trophies up for grabs (well ok, you can count LV Championship Division 2 as an extra), this should be another exciting, if inexorably long season for the county treadmill.

So I am ready for that beautifully special sound of leather on willow, the choral ‘howzaaa’, and for four seasons in one day! Enjoy the ride!

Below are my tips for the season:-

LV County Championship
Champions: Lancashire
Relegated: Essex, Yorkshire

LV County Championship Division 2 – Northamptonshire (Sussex to be promoted)

Clydesdale Bank 40
Winners: Kent
Runners-up: Warwickshire

Friends Provident T20
Winners: Hampshire
Runners-up: Middlesex