Day 1: The 2009 county season gets under way as Rob Key leads out the MCC team to face defending champions Durham at Lord's

Ian Bell and former England skipper Michael Vaughan are two MCC players hoping to stake an early claim for a Test call-up

The summer begins inauspiciously as rain interrupts proceedings at the home of cricket

Durham's openers post a century stand in between the showers before both batsmen fall to Yorkshire seamer Tim Bresnan (left)

Warwickshire's Chris Woakes, the 20-year-old named in England's provisional World Twenty20 squad, claims the third wicket to fall

Day 2: Having smashed 63 off 61 balls on Thursday evening, Ian Blackwell continues his assault on the MCC bowlers

Worcestershire's Kabir Ali, looking to press his England claims, goes wicketless for the second successive day

Durham debutant Blackwell soon reaches his century and is congratulated by his new captain Will Smith

But just 17 overs are possible on day two before rain curtails play in mid-afternoon with Durham 311-4

Day 3: No play is possible because of the rain but the MCC team take part in an impromptu game of football

The wash-out gives MCC keeper James Foster time to mull over his chances of an England recall

Day 4: With a draw now inevitable, more rain delays the action until the umpires decide play can start at 1300 BST

Durham declare on their overnight score - and MCC skipper Rob Key falls early, bringing Michael Vaughan to the crease

But despite cutting two early boundaries, the former England skipper is caught behind for just 12

Worcestershire's Stephen Moore top-scores with 45 for the MCC, but is the next wicket to fall to seamer Callum Thorp

Thorp, who finishes with figures of 4-15, takes two more wickets in an over as Ian Bell and James Foster both fall cheaply

Essex's Tom Westley compiles a patient 18 from 69 balls, and is unbeaten when bad light sees both teams agree a draw