NEW pens and scorebook packed, iPad charged up and ready, the cricket season's finally here and it is time to set off for Littleborough.

It is April 23 and Lancashire Women's team are about to take on the old enemy Yorkshire in a pre season friendly – if any game against the Tykes can be called a friendly.

I'm about to tick off ground number 94 in my (some might say sad) quest to score on at least 100 grounds.

Littleborough is certainly a shock to our newly-arrived Australian as temperatures hardly reach double figures and the players become barely recognisable beneath multiple layers of clothing.

The scorebox, which looks fantastic from a distance and housed in what looks like a new building above the players' changing rooms, is certainly different with each scorer afforded what can only be described as a hole at either end of the box with about a 30-per-cent-view of the ground.

It is hardly ideal as it also faces the ground at totally the wrong angle – a gripe you will often hear from scorers.

The game itself sees a narrow Yorkshire win in bitterly cold conditions (and that was just in the scorebox), but at least we fared better than Lostock whose friendly down the road in Accrington was snowed off!

A few days later I'm on the road to Ashton on Mersey for another friendly and ground number 95.

It is amazing where some grounds are. Ashton's for example is at the end of a long, narrow lane that seems to be going nowhere until you suddenly see it.

It is a nice little ground with adjoining tennis courts. It is undergoing pre-season building work when we arrive in pouring rain.

The next problem is how to get into the scorebox – a portable cabin perched five feet off the ground with no visible means of access.

Eventually a pair of rickety step ladders are produced that are not quite high enough.

Having risked life and limb to climb into the box the ladders follow us up so there is no chance of us being disturbed, but the thought of getting back down later plays on my mind for the next couple of hours.

The start of the Lancashire Women's season proper is due to start at Wigan on May Bank Holiday, but the game is washed out – a pity because Wigan is an excellent ground with great facilities and the teas are always superb.

With a week or two free from scoring the women I take the opportunity to tick off another three grounds with my club Lostock, with Westhoughton's fantastic ground, Farnworth and Astley Bridge joining my list.

The first two offer great views for the scorer, while sitting outside at the latter proves a mistake when the heavens open halfway through the game.

Next up for Lancashire Women is a game against Essex at St Annes. Bright sunshine meets us as we reach the coast and a ground we have not used for a few years.

It is always a great place to go, the set-up and facilities are first class, and from a scoring point of view the scorebox has a proper view of the ground.

Possibly best of all you usually get chance to while away some time with Andrew Flintoff's grandfather – a real character who is justifiably proud of Freddie's achievements.

On this visit he enthuses about the talent of his great grandson, Rocky, one for the future he reckons and better than his dad at the same age.

As for the game itself we make hard work of chasing down 116 for our first win of the season on a dusty, turning wicket.

The second May bank holiday sees us travel to one of my favourite venues, The Northern Club in Crosby, which has facilities many can only dream about – three cricket pitches with two pavilions, a floodlit all-weather hockey pitch and five squash courts.

The main clubhouse also boasts a snooker room for good measure.

Surprisingly, given the excellence of the facilities, the scorebox is rather lacking in facilities with a couple of small rickety tables to try to get all your equipment on, not to mention the electronic scorebox.

Still, the sun shines and the girls show something approaching their best form in an eight-wicket win.