From Scarborough to Hove, the sun shone on county cricket on Sunday. But here and elsewhere, storm clouds are gathering. The sport faces upheaval — oblivion, according to some — and there is little anyone can do about it.
For the thousands who turned up to cheer on their team at eight Royal London Cup 50-over fixtures, existential crisis might have been far from their thoughts. There were friends to catch up with, ice creams to queue for, beers to drink. Perhaps their chosen county might even win.
Yet each week, it seems, brings a fresh twist to a narrative that has been taking shape ever since Brendon McCullum — now England's pioneering Test coach — smashed an unbeaten 158 for Kolkata Knight Riders on the opening night of the Indian Premier League at Bangalore in 2008.