'Removal of pre-season safety blanket never fails to humble'
April marks an exciting time for English cricket. Following a long, dark winter, spring brings with it a new dawn of the domestic cricket season. The men's County Championship was welcomed, albeit in brisk conditions, on Easter weekend, while the women's One-Day Cup follows closely with the first round of fixtures this weekend.
The transition from pre-season to competitive league fixtures takes no prisoners - even for the most experienced in the game. Whether it's your first professional season or your 20th, the removal of the pre-season safety blanket never fails to humble you. Pre-season for most involves friendly fixtures against fellow counties, and while still a full fixture, they often don't quite feel entirely real.
Snick off early in a pre-season fixture and you can put your wrongs to right in a net alongside the pitch. Do it this weekend, and it's a long few hours back on the balcony, reflecting on why you chased a wide one in the second over. Glamorgan's Kiran Carlson and Asa Tribe had to wrap up warm The women's One-Day Cup welcomes a new side into Tier 1 this summer, Yorkshire, who were previously competing in the level below.
They will play in the professional league for the first time. This takes Tier 1 from an eight-team competition to a nine-team one, leading to sides missing a round of fixtures while everyone else plays against each other. For the Blaze, this has fallen on the first round of fixtures.
While every other team will start their season on Saturday, we will wait a few days longer, opening our account on the 15 April at home against Lancashire. At first I was unsure how to feel about this. Naturally we are eager to kick-start our campaign and get into the season.