Bear in mind that Yorkshire attack was lacking Ryan Sidebottom who had been rested. Even given the paucity of Derbyshire's batting, the final spell from Brooks was apparently some good, hostile quick bowling.

All hail the Headband Warrior.

Well we begin to find out today. Root and Bairstow away with England A. Sayers and Hodd replace them. Still no Sidebottom either - ill. Gale won the toss and we're batting on a beautiful Leeds morning.

Wonderful, unexpected win from Lancs at Colwyn Bay followed by an inept performance at home to Durham in the 40 over stuff. I take it we don't want to win a one day trophy this year.

Welcome back to the old Yorkshire after a couple of weeks away. 84-4 at lunch.

I turned up at Colwyn Bay on Friday morning to be welcomed by the dismissal of Jimmy Anderson and Lancs at 105-5. I thought if we could drag it out, maybe until tea, I might get some value for my pricey £15 admission. Never thought I'd still be sat there at 6.30 to see that ending. I nearly fell off my uncomfortable plastic chair when Prince caught that on the boundary!

Also had the pleasure of seeing a spectacularly drunk local fall down the embankment with 2 full pints in his hands! Give him his due, expert handling meant he still had a good pint and a quarter left post-fall.

Lancs do it again in the Championship... They'll be the death of me.

Anthony McGrath in the office. Doesn't look that chubby in civvies.

Adapting well to no longer being England's finest active all-rounder?

Yorkshire 80-2 at lunch, just 48 behind the reigning champions after Plunkett's 5-for yesterday.

Retirement seem to suit him

More so than playing cricket?

Been an interesting couple of days in the second division. Bloody nightmare watching what's going on when you're own team isn't playing. Hopefully we'll still be in a decent position before going to Hampshire next week.

Another hundred for Adil Rashid. Yorkshire in a very strong position now.

Outstanding effort from Yorkshire. Both sides were missing key batsmen (Root/Bairstow versus Bell/Trott) but Adil Rashid's hundred and a really good performance from Yorkshire's quartet of quicks made the difference.

Top of the league a third of the way through the season.

Can anyone mount a credible defence of the continuing presence of the Unicorns in the county set-up?
I mean, losing to Yorkshire in a 40-over game...

Or for that matter, the Dutch and the Scots who all have ICC one-day competitions to play in...

Scotland are definitely not taking part next season. The Dutch and Unicorns seemed to depend on which of the proposals for the new 50 over competition were adopted. www.espncricinfo.com/england/con ... 87249.html

Scotland are definitely not taking part next season. The Dutch and Unicorns seemed to depend on which of the proposals for the new 50 over competition were adopted. www.espncricinfo.com/england/con ... 87249.html

Another unbeaten hundred for Adil Rashid. Takes his average up over 250 for the season...

Good job England sides aren't picked on form, don't need Yorkshire losing another player for half the summer.

Actually, that knock has taken his career batting average above his career bowling average. New candidate for greatest active all-rounder, or will he have to start eating to truly take that mantle from the previous incumbent?

Moin Ashraf cleans up the tail, but Somerset avoid the follow on by 9 runs.

Effectively consigns the game to a draw

Suggestions that the season begins in March with early rounds to be played overseas - the Gulf states and Caribbean being mentioned.
That sounds..... almost certainly completely and utterly unworkable.

Have the ECB been taking advice from the FA?

Aye, there's nothing the impoverished English counties would love more than to lose a couple of games worth of revenue while incurring extra costs of exporting their whole operation to the Gulf for a fortnight...

Alex Lees then, eh? So long JJ Sayers?

Essex 69-4 on a track that's apparently poor for batting on. Anyone know anything good to do in Chelmsford on a Saturday?

A day of contrasts for Alex Lees.

100* at Lords yesterday, out to the first ball this morning.

Closely followed by Joe Sayers, who must have surely done enough to convince Yorkshire he's not worth keeping by now.