Cricket: 11.00: Play resumes at Durham. 17.13: Snow stops play

Seasons come, seasons go: After the snow that prevented play on the first day of Durham's opening County Championship match against Worcestershire on Tuesday, the Christmas scene gave way to a vision of English summertime at the Riverside yesterday. The sun shining out of the blue sky picks out Lumley Castle behind Durham headquarters at Chester-le-Street as the players at last enjoy the warm glow of a new cricket season.

Durham made a promising start to the match, bowling out Worcestershire for 152. David Leatherdale offered the only serious resistance with 85 as Simon Brown celebrated his return after a year out with a knee injury by taking 6 for 25.

But by then the fluffy white clouds had been replaced by something more threatening and just one over into their reply, Durham's openers were forced to retreat - by snow. They did return, however, and Durham ended the day on 32 for 1 PA