Rose Bowl lights up for the summer

Hampshire's floodlights have cost in excess of £500,000 © Hampshire County Cricket Club

Hampshire have successfully installed six floodlights at the Rose Bowl to become the fourth ground in England to have permanent fixtures in place. The ground will host a floodlit Twenty20 match on June 15 when England face Sri Lanka, as well as England's match against Pakistan on September 5 in the NatWest Series.

With the floodlights costing in excess of half-a-million pounds, the county have taken somewhat of a leap of faith; the income generated from county cricket isn't sufficient to run the club on its own. It nevertheless represents a significant development at the Rose Bowl, England's newest ground, which hosted its inaugural first-class game in 2001.

The problem of dew in the early mornings and evenings has been the limiting factor in hosting more day-night one-dayers in England, with most grounds opting to erect temporary lights. Chelmsford, Hove and Derby are the other three grounds to have installed permanent floodlights.

"The floodlights are a substantial investment in both Hampshire and English cricket," Glenn Delve, Hampshire's managing director commented. "This is a fantastic facility that allows spectators to watch the game at a time that's convenient for them."