Maybe, just maybe.

A frustrating morning at Headingley yesterday when light rain and drizzle prevented any play until 2:30 and when it did start Hampshire added another 75 to their overnight score for the loss of their last five wickets. Three of these went to Rashid, but he could not be said to have bowled well. Bates got his first century in first class cricket and Katich fell just a boundary short of a double hundred as the visitors took maximum batting points. Two dropped catches  denied Yorkshire the third bowling point and the Hampshire innings lasted a further nine overs before they were all out at which point tea was taken.
Lyth began Yorkshire's reply with a beautifully timed offside four but, still in the first over, he 'shouldered arms' and was lbw. Jacques joined Root but batting against the new ball and in poorish light was a much more difficult proposition than before tea and when the latter was out for 8 he had faced 44 deliveries. 32 for 2 became 32 for 3 when skipper Gale was run out and the 277 needed to avoid the follow on seemed a long way off. Good work from Jacques and Ballance, however, added 68 before the close of play.

The delay in the start of the day's play did at least afford an opportunity to chat with a number of friends, some of whom I had not seen since the last championship match at Headingley in April. The pcws amongst them all had tales to tell about days lost to the weather or where cricket had been possible, close to freezing temperatures. One topic of conversation was the new weekly 'The Cricket Paper' which had been published on Wednesday but was proving rather difficult to find on the newagents' shelves. I did, however pick up a copy in my local supermarket today and at £1:50 (£1:00 on subscription) it seems like a good read, with 8 of its 44 pages devoted to league cricket.
I also bought The Ripon Gazette to catch up on league cricket in my area with its coverage of The Nidderdale,Wetherby and York Senior Leagues.  Top of the first of these sit Spofforth who transferred from The Wetherby in 2011 and whilst serving their apprenticeship were comfortable winners of the second division last season. It is not much of a surprise that they are the early pace setters in 2012 with Bishop Thornton in close contention.Last year's champions and my local team, Ouseburn CC are finding life tough at the moment and are without a victory at this early stage. The Wetherby League is headed by Barwick in Elmet and Great Preston. Clifton Alliance are the early leaders in the York League in its centenary year.
Looking ahead, this coming week sees an opportunity to see Durham II and Yorkshire II in opposing action. Firstly on Monday in the SET at Marske by the Sea and then on Tuesday the two teams move on to Clifton Park in York for a three day SEC game. The forecast suggests that by Tuesday we might finally see some warmer weather, let's hope so, for spectating at the York ground can be a very enjoyable experience when the sun shines.Maybe, just maybe.