CRICKET WORLD

One of cricket's most august fixtures begins on Monday as the MCC take on the champion County - but this year, not on a chilly early spring day at Lord's. The rather more exotic location of Abu Dhabi will see an MCC team lead by Gloucestershire's Alex Gidman play Durham - under floodlights no less, and with NW8's pink gins giving way to pink balls.

The English domestic game comes under fire a great deal, and not without good reason on occasion, but we sometimes forget there is much to celebrate and praise. Twenty20, of course, was an ECB invention - although it has taken Indian flair and business acumen to harness its potential. The prospect of first-class cricket under lights is an exciting one for the future of the sport.

This season will see the domestic 40-over competition's second division try out split innings. With each team batting for 20 overs twice, one would expect that the effects of the toss - so hugely influential in day-night limited overs cricket, especially - would be reduced. It could go some way to revitalising the least enjoyed of the three formats. It will be interesting to see how teams approach the new tactical challenges presented by the split-innings format, as well.

The third exciting new wheeze in England this summer is the Test and Twenty20 series between Pakistan and Australia. With the top players from all countries lining up together for IPL franchises, and England cleverly selecting a team of South Africans, it's just further evidence that the sport is moving away from the nation-based thinking and looking to become a global game. The IPL have stolen a march on the ICC in realising the opportunities beyond nation-nation home-and-away series, and it's good that England are involved in hosting this historic fixture.

Personally, I am more excited about going to watch Pakistan and Australia in a Test at Lord's than I am about England's own fixtures this summer. With all due respect, the prospect of a further two Tests and three one-dayers against Bangladesh does not send me racing to the credit card booking line.

More eagerly anticipated is the chance to see Virender Sehwag smashing it around for Northants, and the prospect of Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq playing some top class Twenty20 cricket for Hampshire. Also, Kumar Sangakkara at Lancs later in the year, and Adam Gilchrist at Middlesex for the Twenty20. I'm also looking forward to seeing if his England experience will have boosted Steve Finn even further and if a move to Sussex will revitalise Monty. I'm hoping that Simon Jones can get an injury-free season under his belt, and curious to find out how the quirky and singular Matthew Hoggard deals with the demands of captaincy at Leicestershire. I'm wondering if Surrey can turn things around with the signings of some strong country players including Steven Davies, Gareth Batty, Rory Hamilton-Brown and Chris Tremlett. And, as ever, there is the prospect of seeing some fiery spells from Steve Harmison and a few tons from the blade of Mark Ramprakash.

Much to look forward to this summer - and a lot of it on the domestic stage. If only the grounds would reduce the prices a bit and let people in for free after tea, say, then maybe a few more people would see some Championship action...