In part one of a new column, Durham's Jon Lewis, nicknamed The Judge, reports from sunny Dubai.

After a long and cold winter running around athletics tracks, up the hills of Lumley and seeing more dumbells, treadmills and indoor cricket centres than can be good for anyone, the season is about to begin. It may not be cricket weather where you are, but the players and coaches of Durham CCC are lucky enough to have been flown to Dubai for 12 days of outdoor training.

For many of us this is a revisit following our tour here prior to the 2005 season. There is no doubt that we played some excellent cricket in the first month of that campaign and the club are keen for us to repeat our preparations. If we can hit the ground running this year as we did last, we have an excellent chance of another successful summer.

Today sees our first game of the tour - a two-day practice match between the 22 players of our own squad.

It constitutes a giant leap towards the season starting as the net surroundings disappear and we acclimatise to the open spaces of a cricket field.

Although billed as a friendly there is an edge to it as the losing team buys dinner for the winners. And, of course, there are bragging rights to be won.

The first bout of acclimatisation came on Friday with our initial outdoor net session. I have been feeling in good touch for the last couple of weeks in the indoor nets, but after a half dozen deliveries outside from Graham Onions and Danny Evans I was not so sure.

The net surfaces are outstanding, without a blade of live grass on them and by the end of my knock I was beginning to come to terms with the low skiddy bounce.

Although I would never be allowed to use it as an excuse, I am sure the black sightscreens were't doing me any favours.

There are, of course, some notable absentees from our party. Paul Collingwood and Liam Plunkett are still doing battle in India and Stephen Harmison is recuperating in Ashington. Since arriving we have also heard that Mike Hussey will not be able to join us this season.

I think a few of us anticipated him being unavailable for a part of the year and Mike was keen to play as big a part as he could. But Cricket Australia are keen to look after and rest a guy who has become an important figure in their Test and one-day teams.

With so much international cricket coming up in 2006/7 I can understand their position.

On the upside, we should be seeing Mick Lewis for most of the year, and Jimmy Maher is a quality replacement for Huss.

He made a big impression in the short time he was with us last season and I know he is looking forward to the challenge.

Last night we had a trip to the Dubai World Cup. I am not a big horse racing fan but this is an occaision I would make every effort to attend.

We were fortunate enough to get to see it last year and those who went were delighted to see the dates fall kindly again. We had a fielding and fitness session today but the coach wisely scheduled it for the afternoon so I was able to allow myself a beer last night, or was it two?