Morning Report

The County Championship, the blue riband of the professional game, has often been likened to the rhythms of a William Walton symphony with moments of quiet tension, sudden crescendos and then a majestic finale to leave the audience breathless. After their draw last week at Northampton, Sam Northeast and his squad have returned to the East Midlands with their cricketing equivalents of orbs and sceptres to commence what could be the closing movement ahead of a potential coronation march next week against Lancashire when they are back at home in Cardiff. (writes Andrew Hignell)

However, the weather gods have turned this vital encounter at Derby into something more akin to Handel’s Water Music. Steady rain and a gusty wind had greeted the Glamorgan squad when they arrived in Derby yesterday afternoon to prepare for this four-day encounter, with the precipitation continuing into the evening. With a yellow weather warning in operation over much of England and Wales until 1800 this evening, it was no surprise this morning that when both the Glamorgan and Derbyshire squads, plus umpires Steve O’Shaughnessy and Suri Shanmugam, arrived at the ground at 0900am, they found the outfield in a damp state and with the pitch and surrounds still under cover.

Given the very strong winds, it was too dangerous for the groundstaff to safely remove the protective sheets, with the umpires deciding to delay the start of play and to assess conditions again at 1030am. With the winds still blowing strongly, a further inspection took place at 1130am, but conditions had not improved so lucnh will be taken at 1230pm with a further inspection at 1310pm.