LANCASHIRE were today facing the predictable prospect of a rain-ruined first home game of the season for the second year running.

Last year, three of the four days of their match against Middlesex at Old Trafford were complete wash-outs, and yesterday's opening day of the Championship season against Sussex followed the same pattern - although at least it did not snow, as at Durham.

Umpires George Sharp and Neil Mallender called it quits at 2 O'Clock after a number of heavy showers had left the ground sodden.

And with a poor forecast for the rest of the week - there was a ground frost last night - the prospects of a decent game were bleak indeed. Responding to the frustration of last year's Middlesex washout, Old Trafford groundsman Peter Marron suggested that Lancashire should be given away games until the end of April, because of the high water table.

The response from Lord's? To give Lancashire, and Durham, home games on April 13 - the earliest-ever start to a county season.

An article in the new edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack on "Cricket and the Weather," by the BBC's forecaster Philip Eden, shows that Lancashire and Durham fare much worse than any other counties.

Eden calculated an average "summer index" based on rainfall amount and frequency, sunshine and temperature. Sussex and Middlesex came out on top with 645 each, with Lancashire way down on 515 - even Yorkshire have 545 - and Durham 510. But last year Lancashire came bottom of the pile with 441, with Durham on 461, Yorkshire 498, and Sussex on a massively sunny 719.

This might not seem to have much to do with cricket, but in a season which ill end with the Championship being split into two divisions, luck with the weather will be crucial.

It just means that Lancashire and Durham will have to make every dry post a winner.

The start of play was delayed today.

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