The Dutch domestic season got off to the most miserable start possible on Sunday, as two weeks of glorious weather gave way to a day of steady, persistent rain.

The result was that not a ball was bowled anywhere in the top divisions, and all the teams had to be content with a point apiece.

In the Topklasse, the first game to be called off was champions Excelsior ‘20’s at Rood en Wit in Haarlem, where the captains agreed to give up at about two o’clock. Hermes-DVS and VOC Rotterdam followed suit soon afterwards, and within the hour all four matches had been abandoned.

It was all very disappointing for bowlers itching to get into action and batsmen looking to get some early runs in the bank, but in competitions which promise to be extremely tight, it just might be that some sides will find that point extremely handy when push comes to shove at the end of July.

Weather permitting, things will now get under way next Sunday, with Excelsior at home to VOC, Rood en Wit entertaining HCC, VRA Amsterdam visiting old rivals ACC, and Hermes-DVS travelling to Den Haag to take on Quick.

That is, of course, unless it is decided to play the match between HCC and VRA, which will need to be moved from 16 May because of both sides’ involvement in the national squad, next Saturday after all. But with HCC reportedly resisting that proposal it doesn’t seem likely at the moment.