I wonder how much the weather will play a part in the increasingly interesting County Championship this year.

At Trent Bridge we were reminded that it doesn't matter how well we play, we are in the lap of the gods when it comes to the weather.

It has been the driest summer I can remember (that's the best I can do without the official meteorological statistics) and it was inevitable that rain would come into the equation somewhere along the line.

It was particularly annoying, however, that it should affect a match we expected to win.

Indeed, the strong position we found ourselves in on the third and final morning merely highlighted the frustration. Nottinghamshire were there for the taking but we ran out of time and we were left to rue the first day washout as we sat in traffic jams on the M1 home.

Neutral observers would note at this point that both Lancashire and Surrey had their potential wins ruined by the rain too and they would be correct. It is true that we did not lose any ground in the race for the Championship.

It is also true that we are lucky to have lost very little time to rain compared with other counties this year. I know this was not the first game Lancashire had drawn because of Manchester's inclement weather.

The title race is certainly coming to a head nicely but we are far from favourites. There are several furlongs to go and the thoroughbreds from Manchester and South London are champing at the bit.

We came back from Nottingham with more points for the positive box, however, and, barring the injury to Jason Lewry, we should be in the best possible shape to play against the strongest county this week.

Murray Goodwin played as well as he ever has for us at his favourite stomping ground and the captain scored a classy 40 odd to show he is regaining form fast.

James Kirtley bowled superbly as ever and it was exciting to see Paul Hutchison in such good rhythm. He only snared a couple of victims but bowled with good control, pace and movement and gave us a glimpse of why he has toured with the England A team before.

This week's game against Surrey is important but the result will not decide who wins the championship.

We have two games against Lancashire to go in the weeks that follow and they will be every bit as crucial as this game.

We find ourselves in a very healthy position at this stage of the season but it was only four years ago that we found ourselves top of the second division in August.

Michael Bevan had just played a match-winning knock of 150 not out against Middlesex at Southgate and confidence was sky-high. But then the wheels came off. We lost the next four games and ended up bottom, yes bottom, of the league!

We are a much more balanced and experienced side today. The same will not happen this year but I tell the story to remind us not to get too carried away.

Funny things can happen in this, the funniest of old games.