Icy winds, water-logged fields, constant drizzle alternating with driving rain - what else could we expect in the build-up to the opening weekend of the competitive cricket season?

Perhaps things will get better over the next few days, as the Leinster 50 Overs League - sponsored by Lewis Traub - kicks off with matches scheduled over the weekend.

Merrion, the holders, have a busy holiday weekend, away against Dublin University today and at home to Pembroke on Monday. That latter match is a repeat of last summer's final, a game which was decided in the last over of the day.

Once more, Gus Joyce will captain the team, which includes Merrion's new professional, Australian Chris Torrisi, who is, I'm told, a fine batsman who can also bowl a bit, if required.

For today's match, the Joyce family will be divided against itself - Gus and Damian are in the Merrion side, while brothers Ed and Dom line out for Trinity.

Pembroke will be captained by their overseas player, Luke Jackson, this year, and Monday's line-up includes Brian O'Rourke and Richard Hastie, last season's winners of the Samuels and Solomons Cups, respectively. Merrion also have their individual silverware winners on duty, namely Damian Poder, who took the O'Grady Cup, and Gus Joyce, awarded the Hopkins Cup.

The North West Senior League also starts today, with four matches in each of the two divisions. Limavady, the Cup and League title holders, are at home to Glendermott and will be captained again this season by Decker Curry, who announced his retirement from international cricket last month.