County Championship on the backfoot

For how much longer can the County Championship stand against the forces of progress and fashion? An Ashes series, a West Indies tour, the ICC World Twenty20, an English Premier League looming next season...factor in the recession and the erosion of local newspaper sales, and the umbilical cord between cricket lovers and their nearest first-class county is in danger of fraying like never before. Robert Kitson in his blog on the Guardian website calls for a massive facelift.

It is a simple question, but the answer will define English cricket in future. Do you care more about the start of the new County Championship season tomorrow or the Indian Premier League, about to be refloated as a Bombay duck out of water in South Africa this weekend?

A scorer is as essential as an umpire to any proper game of cricket – perhaps, the longer you consider it, even more so. In his blog, Frank Keating in his blog on the same website pays his respect to various keepers of the log across the county circuit.

The Championship may be facing fierce competition this year, but for Angus Fraser, as he takes charge of Middlesex, it's still the life and soul of cricket. Writing in the Independent he explains why he 's back in the game.

Excitement, energy and hope are the emotions that fill county dressing rooms, because the new season heralds the start of another challenging but potentially life-changing chapter in their lives. No player can be sure how the coming season will unfold – it is hard to believe Essex's Graham Napier would have contemplated being awarded an IPL contract 12 months ago – and it is such uncertainty that brings about these emotions. Working in such a positive environment is proving to be extremely satisfying.

Back to the Guardian. Bob Willis joins Lawrence Booth, Andy Bull, David Hopps in assessing each side before the season begins.

Read Gary Keedy's column in the Manchester Evening News.