Derek Pringle discusses how the usual seam-friendly conditions of April and May can have a lasting effect on the rest of the season

Back of a length: Caddick

There are five rounds of County Championship matches before the start of June – a sizeable chunk of the programme that could prove vital in determining the destination of this season’s title given the vagaries of pitches, weather and form at this time of year.
Traditionally, early season encounters in the Championship have been decided by seam bowlers. With the moisture from spring rain yet to be evaporated by summ...