The sporting week ahead (04/08/13)

Today

Just three days after "Yorkshire Day", the county has a chance to assert itself with its favourite game – rugby league. While the nation's eyes might be on Old Trafford, Castleford, Wakefield and Huddersfield all have home Super League games, Wildcats hosting the Bradford Bulls. Some Yorkies may stray across the Pennines to watch the cricket, but true believers in the white rose will surely stay loyal to their own.

Tomorrow

Two of the traditional romantic evocative forces of north-western football, Preston North End and Blackpool, do battle in the first round of one of the traditional romantic evocation competitions, the Capital One Cup. Blackpool will be more keen to stay in the Championship this year, and Preston to reach it, but for those of us who need antihistamines to combat such high-summer cup fever, the buzz is back.

Tuesday

After the riotous success of the last stage of T20 games – 28,000 saw Surrey beat Middlesex at Lord's – the quarter-finals begin, with Surrey hosting Somerset at The Oval at 4.15pm. Those lucky enough to be able to take half a day off will see the ferocious Somerset stable of Craig Kieswetter, Alviro Petersen and Jos Buttler take on Surrey's miserly bowling unit of Jon Lewis, Gareth Batty, Azhar Mahmood and, at this level at least, Jade Dernbach.

Wednesday

Is Britain serious about cycling? Are Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish just two talents we have been lucky to find? Is there a new generation? Find out at the UCI Junior World Championships in Glasgow. At least, the partisan crowd should help our junior Chris Froomes.

Thursday

Rory McIlroy won the 2012 PGA Championship in style, by a record eight strokes, but things have not been easy since. The prospects of him defending his title at Oak Hill are not good. After his nightmare at The Open making the cut would be progress.

Friday

Ashes cricket finally comes to Chester-le-Street. They missed out in 2009 to Cardiff, who staged an unlikely thriller. Durham have only had Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and West Indies in the past but, weather permitting, they could see something special.

Saturday

The second weekend of the second tier of English club football – the most dramatic and unpredictable competition around. Harry Redknapp's Queens Park Rangers will be briskly reminded of their new status when they travel to Huddersfield.