After the month's break for T20 and, here in the West, possibly the coolest, wettest summer period in living memory, the County Championship returned. And - guess what? - every match was ruined by the rain. No teams were able to complete two innings, so it was a matter of securing as many bonus points as possible in the inevitable draws.
Warwickshire were fortunate in that their game against Sussex started a day later than elsewhere and so had the luxury of a dry finale. This enabled them to press on to reach 400 before bowling their opponents out to take the maximum eleven points, taking them one ahead of rivals Nottinghamshire who had claimed two fewer against Middlesex the day before. Rikki Clarke's blistering 110 not out was followed by a 3-16 as Sussex declined to 191 all out. At Uxbridge, rain affected each day, with Saturday a complete washout. Andre Adams had set them on their way with 6-32 as Middlesex were skittled for 98, more than half scored by Andrew Strauss. An Adam Voges century gave the then leaders an impressive lead before Strauss compiled an unbeaten 127 and the weather did the rest to prevent a potential victory. Middlesex did garner six points, enough to overtake Somerset, who didn't play, into third place.
The bottom four played each other. Lancashire and Surrey swapped innings of 400+. Steven Croft's impressive 154 not out was soon forgotten when Kevin Pietersen's rare foray into Championship cricket yielded 234 runs in only 190 balls. Imran Tahir may need to worry most because spinner Simon Kerrigan was really given the KP treatment.
It was a lower-scoring affair at Worcester, with neither the home county nor Durham able to break the 250 barrier. Only Phil Hughes looked comfortable with bat in hand, scoring 87 and Durham's Scott Borthwick took 4-37, including the Aussie's wicket. Both sides therefore remain winless so far in the competition.
In Division Two, even less cricket was possible. Only 100 overs were played at Cheltenham, during which Gloucestershire's very short-term signing Ed Cowan scored 103. He will almost certainly have the best average for the season as it's his only scheduled first-class match! Essex could take only four wickets and remain third from bottom. At the Rose Bowl - or whatever it's now called - the overs tally wasn't much higher: 106. Yorkshire's Joe Root was probably the only man to enjoy the match, striking a career-best 222 not out, and reminding England selectors of his future opening credentials when Strauss calls it a day. The 21 year-old has the fourth highest aggregate in Division Two to date, and his county now stand second in the table behind Derbyshire who they now meet this week.
In Division One, Warwickshire travel to Taunton where rain will almost certainly intervene. Notts meet Surrey, while Worcestershire and Durham hope to break their Championship ducks at Lancashire and Sussex, respectively. KP and Strauss will not be reproducing their form for their counties, hoping instead to inflict it on Messrs Steyn, Morkel and co.
