LANCASHIRE and Surrey endured another washout at Old Trafford and have yet to bowl a ball in their clash of the Cricinfo County Championship heavyweights.

Two blank days already, a forecast for yet more rain and a saturated outfield have eliminated clear prospects of a positive outcome if and when the teams do actually take the field in this Division One clash.

When the inevitable announcement of another abandonment came shortly before 1pm today there was no one more fed-up with the situation than Lancashire groundsman Peter Marron.

He has been beset by months of unprecedented winter rain and explained in the prevailing climate there is no more he can do to try to provide a playable surface at Old Trafford.

"We used to get drier breaks in the weather in February and March - but we just don't seem to get them any more," he said.

"People need to understand that that is the case."

Although current problems are represent an extreme case, Marron does not see much reason for optimism that there will be a significant improvement in the medium or long term.

"If the weather climate stays as it is - and the experts seem to be telling us it will - the obvious answer is to relay outfields."

The Manchester surface is giving Marron nightmares because it is capable of draining only slowly and with very favourable conditions.

He is far from the only county groundsman with major problems this spring.

But to address the issue Marron sees significant investment as the only solution.

"We need more covers and more staff. If the winter rain continues like this the only way cricket can solve the problems is by spending a lot more money," he said.

"At the moment it is a no-win situation."