Leading Division One rivals Durham and Nottinghamshire had their Championship match at the Riverside abandoned without a single ball bowled in anger.

A four-day washout was confirmed with prospects so bleak that - for the second day running - the visitors did not even make it to the ground.

Durham coach Geoff Cook said: "It's disappointing. But we've just had non-stop rain really.

"The whole area is saturated - as it has been for the last two weeks."

With four points for each team, Cook's men therefore remain one point behind the leaders but with a game in hand.

It is a scenario with which he is content, in the knowledge that the title race - Nottinghamshire and Durham are by no means the only contenders - is highly likely to go, like last year, to the final round of matches next month.

"I said last week that I fancy the weather and international calls will be the biggest factor in deciding how the championship goes this year," Cook added.

"I don't think matches in hand really matter at this stage; it's how much time you get on the field - and both of us have suffered from this one."

Nottinghamshire and Durham also drew at Trent Bridge two weeks ago, rain a factor then too.

"We lost a day there, and it was a pretty slow surface which meant we had problems getting a result in three days," the coach recalled.

"Two draws against them - we'll take that. It's good for the game that there is going to be a lot of interest in the Championship right the way through again this season."