We don't usually take much notice of the last five results in that particular competition between the two teams, which is shown on the Cricinfo page for the fixture in the hours before the match. But looking at the Essex and Durham fixtures for today, it's interesting that, of the three previous fixtures between today's two teams in August of past years, all were No Result and the one July fixture was Abandoned.
Of course, that's only a small cross-section, but it does show how unpredictable the weather can be in the so-called high summer, when the new competition is planned to be played.
Lynda and Steve