A frosty welcome?

posted by John winn

Waking up in The Lake District this morning to a light covering of snow, the same Lake District where we had seen bluebells, wild garlic and lady's smock in flower on Monday, my wife and I were concerned to hear that the major routes across The Pennines were closed. It was a great relief therefore when Radio Cumbria announced as we reached Penrith that the A66 between Brough and Bowes was open to traffic. I could do without these kind of alarms at the best of times but that such conditions should prevail the day before the 2012 County Championship begins at Headingley with Yorkshire facing Men of Kent and Kentish Men together with some who can claim neither of these distinctions,was not part of the script I have been writing since the fixtures were published in November.
How many of us, as we enjoyed last week's record temperatures, just had a niggling thought that there would be a price to pay? Traffic chaos, power cuts and snow on the outfield at HQ are enough to make the most optimistic think that April 5th is better suited to the end of the tax year than the beginning of the cricket season. I was put in mind of the 1999 season, when on April 13th , described by The Guardian as a 'preposterously early start to the season', Durham lost the first day of their match with Worcestershire to snow and an iconic photograph of David Boon juggling two snowballs was turned into a Christmas card.
In contrast Yorkshire began the 1912 season with a match against MCC at Lords on May 6th and their first home match in the championship, against Hampshire at Bramall Lane, was not until May 13th and only rain which prevented any play on the third (and final) day saved the visitors from defeat. One hundred years and three days later, on May 16th 2012,Yorkshire will again face Hampshire, this time at Headingley,with 25% of their championship matches already completed. Let's hope by then Gale's men have laid down a clear intention to return to the top division.
The YCCC shop is offering double discount to members tomorrow, it is not known whether stocks include thermal underwear but it might not be a bad idea.