Ever the optimist, I am going to believe that we will actually get some cricket in this season. I’ve even posted one of my favourite cricket pictures (Glamorgan v Lancs at Colwyn Bay) to cheer me (and hopefully others) up and remind us that sunnier days and drier times will come.

The season ahead, whenever it does eventually start, will break new ground with the introduction of win-lose cricket across all senior cricket divisions and, for our 1st XI, a hybrid season with half of their fixtures a win-lose format and the other half the more familiar win-lose-draw format, although the points system for both formats has been radically overhauled.

The win-lose format is clearly popular (the required majority of clubs voted for it) and there is no doubt it will bring an edge to games, with no draw option to fall back on. The long overdue use of DLS to reset targets in rain-affected games will also bring a new angle on proceedings and personally I’m very pleased that the win-lose format has been properly thought through.

For example, a previously sacrosanct part of CCCL regulations meant that the side batting first was always entitled to receive the maximum number of overs in their innings regardless of any subsequent loss of overs in the match. In such instances, the side batting second ended up with whatever overs were left but no reduction in their target, which was always absurd and unfair.

From now on, however, when play is interrupted, overs are reduced equally, so the possibility exists that the side batting first could have their available overs reduced, or even have their innings summarily terminated, as the aim of the win-lose regulations is to ensure that both sides face the same number of overs. In such instances DLS will calculate an ‘enhanced’ target for the side batting second.

In 1st cricket, there should be competent scorers and umpires to ensure that DLS is administered properly – at least that’s the theory! – but for 2nd XI cricket, this will more often than not fall on the players, or more specifically the captains. In 3rd XI cricket, things are different again for interrupted games inasmuch as the team batting second have to bat for at least half the overs of the team batting first for there to be a result (which will be determined by DLS), otherwise the match will be considered abandoned. So again, captains will need to know their way around DLS.

By the way, if anyone feels they could benefit from a DLS tutorial please feel free to get in touch. DLS is a straightforward and easily manageable process.

When the win-lose-draw matches occur in 1st XI cricket, the actual format will be the same as that which has hitherto existed, but the points distribution has changed markedly, and there is a world of glorious confusion awaiting us all with average run rate percentages making their bow. I won’t go into detail here – those interested can read up on it for themselves on the CCCL website – but there is already nervous anticipation aplenty amongst the scoring cohort!

But that’s all for the future. As long as things dry up and warm up, Didsbury are set fair across the board for another exciting season with strong sides in every division. Don’t forget also the 3rds have their delayed 2023 T20 Finals Day taking place in May, an early opportunity to land a trophy with the 3s aiming to make it a fifth straight Finals Day triumph.