YORKSHIRE V SURREY at Headingley (SSCC1), 26-29 JUNE 2017

If the weather forecasters are to be believed, the full introduction of day-night cricket to the County Championship could be heading for a soggy conclusion; which would be a real shame, because that 127-year-old thing of beauty is something that needs to be shared.

With only day one looking as if it will escape a dousing, it could matter little that Gary Ballance will miss the second half of this fixture, after being called up to captain the England Lions squad for the four-day match against South Africa, starting on Thursday.

Heading into the 2017 campaign, the bookies made Yorkshire favourites to win the County Championship and Surrey second favourites, but, after faltering of late, both need to get back to winning ways if they are to justify that elevation.

There is a saying in cricket that when Yorkshire and Surrey are strong, so are England. Both continue to run production lines that are the envy of their peers. In recent years, Yorkshire have been well represented at international level and, now, there is a sense that Surrey will soon be faced with having to chop and change their line-up to compensate for the demands of the England selectors.

In the corresponding game last season, Joe Root hit 213 against Surrey, in addition to putting on 372 with Jonny Bairstow - the fifth highest partnership (for any wicket) in Yorkshire’s history. This year, however, Root and Bairstow have made just 18 championship runs between them in four visits to the crease. The jewel in Yorkshire's batting line-up has been Gary Ballance (815 runs at an average of 101.87), but given that Ballance is colour-blind the pink ball could prove to be a leveller. If it is, Adam Lyth, who is averaging just 24.25, and Alex Lees (28.18) could have an important parts to play with the bat.

The key to Yorkshire's three championship victories this summer - which have put them third in Division One - has undoubtedly been the form, with the new ball, of Ben Coad (33 wickets at 15.60 runs apiece) and Ryan Sidebottom (19 at 16.42). However, the only other Tykes bowler with ten or more Division One scalps this season is Tim Bresnan, who has fifteen.

Surrey v Yorkshire - First-Class Records Sheet

If he plays, Conor McKerr will be making his Surrey debut. Scott Borthwick appears to be rooted on 197 first-class wickets, but I'll mention it again, and Mark Stoneman (971) is closing in on 1,000 f-c runs against Yorkshire. Turning to the hosts, Tim Bresnan (499) needs one more for 500 first-class career wickets.

Surrey's 14-man squad includes Scott Borthwick, who was forced to sit out the Royal London semi-final with a sprained ankle, seamer Conor McKerr, who was recently recalled from an eye-catching loan spell at Derbyshire, and young off-spinner Amar Virdi. Jason Roy looks set to make his first first-class appearance of the season while Jade Dernbach misses out.

Since winning there in 1973, Surrey have only one victory to show from their last nine championship visits to Headingley. Last year, despite intervention from the weather, Yorkshire still won and won handsomely, by an innings and 20 runs. In short, Leeds is hardly a happy hunting ground for the Oval outfit. But, given the weather forecast, which isn't holding out much hope of play on days two and three, I'm going draw.

A.Lyth, A.Lees, J.Root, G.Ballance (capt), P.Handscomb, J.Bairstow (wk), A.Rashid, T.Bresnan, S.Patterson, B.Coad and R.Sidebottom.

Richard Kettleborough and Neil Mallender.

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