YOU could tell it was the start of the cricket season - because snow stopped play, the skies thundered and at Lord's, the home of cricket, gusts of wind bowled over two groundsmen trying to put on the covers!

Two inches of snow fell at Chester-le-Street, whitewashing any chance of action between Durham and Worcestershire.

Rain - quickly followed by hail, thunder and lightning - put paid to Middlesex's opening day with Kent, just ten overs being bowled.

And at the Oval, the rain that had prevented any play at all at Old Trafford and Trent Bridge, finally swept in and stopped Surrey in their tracks after they had managed 47 overs and 124 runs against Gloucestershire.

Were we really surprised? Hardly - it was a just a typical story of cricket's 1999 opening day being put on ice. MANY cricket clubs in our area are working out the possibilities of a new points system coming into force for the new season.

The Oxfordshire Cricket Association leagues start up on May 1 and the eyecatching feature of the new system involves merit points for both batting and bowling. It allows losing teams to "get something" out of a game.

The move was adopted at the OCA annual meeting and brings to an end the traditional format of four points for a win, none for a defeat, two each for a tie, and one each for cancelled or abandoned games.

Now the tally is 20 pts for a win, none for losing, 10 each for cancellation, and 15 each for tied or abandoned games. Thus, the incentive for teams to play rather than cancel games is an extra five points. The OCA is sticking to the spirit of the one-day game by not allowing drawn matches - a format taken on board by the Cherwell League and often criticised for 'bore draws.'

The feature which brings a new dimension, though, is the introduction of points for bowling - one for every two wickets taken - and an extra batting point at the following totals - 75, 110, 145, 175 and 200. Losing teams, therefore, could come out of a game with up to ten bonus points.

It will be interesting to see how the system impacts on promotion and relegation issues during the coming season. One thought is that captains might find the need for a new tactical awareness of the game.

RYAN Giggs' wonder goal which won Manchester United's FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal is the goal of the season as far as I'm concerned - but it may not be the best of all-time.

I can think of four that must run Giggs' effort very close indeed - George Best's solo effort against Benfica in 1966; Ricky Villa's cup-winning dribble for Spurs against Manchester City in 1981; John Barnes' 35-yard run for England against Brazil in the Maracana Stadium in 1984; and Diego Maradona's second goal (not the 'hand of God) as Argentina beat England in 1986. I've left out Michael Owen's stunner against Argentina last year, and David Ginola's winner against Barnsley earlier this season. And there must be other 'wonder' goals from world-class dribblers which I've forgotten about too - such as Pele, Stanley Matthews, Frank Worthington and Rodney Marsh. So, if you know of a better goal, let me know.

I just find it amazing that it's 13 years since we last saw a goal as good as Giggsy's last week.

Story date: Tuesday 20 April

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.