THE annual MCC vs Champions match at Lords may have got underway in traditional British Bank Holiday weather yesterday, but not even drizzle and bad light could dim our pride in Durham County Cricket Club.

While it is safe to say there will be no football trophies coming our way this season, nobody could deny that the country’s best cricket team hails from Durham.

The squad impressed everyone last season as they took the Division One title, as well as reaching the semifinals of the Friends Provident Trophy and Twenty20 Cup.

And the Riversiders got off to a great start yesterday against a strong MCC side in the traditional curtainraiser to the new campaign.

Let us hope that Durham’s success rubs off on our football teams next season. Meanwhile, we wish our cricketers well in the season ahead.