Lancashire: Marron defends washout (28 April 1998)

28 April

Marron defends Lancs washout

Lancashire Evening Telegraph

LANCASHIRE groundsman Peter Marron today defended the latest Old Trafford Championship washout - and urged cricket chiefs to put back the start of the season.

The last day of the match against Middlesex was officially abandoned at 12.30pm, even though the sun had been out all morning. This followed previous washouts on each of the first two days, while Sunday's Axa League match was also abandoned.

"There was nothing anybody could have done to get cricket on with all the rain we've had in the last couple of days," said Marron.

"Various areas of the outfield are absolutely soaking, verging on a bog.

"But this is nothing new. It's always a nightmare here in April because the water table is so high, and this year it's even worse because we've had two very wet months. If we'd had all this rain in June or July, it wouldn't have been such a problem.

"I think it's about time the people who make decisions had a look at delaying the start of the season until May." If Lancashire members don't like the sound of that, they should bear in mind that this year they won't be able to see Lancashire bat in the Championship at Old Trafford until at least June 11.

Ridiculously, four of their first five Championship matches are away, and the only first team cricket at Old Trafford for the next six weeks comes in the shape of two Benson and Hedges Cup zonal matches, an Axa League game against Derbyshire, and the Texaco Trophy international on May 23.

One of those matches is tomorrow, with Warwickshire the visitors in Lancashire's opening B&H match.

It should be a clash of the big guns with Mike Atherton and Wasim Akram returning for Lancashire, and Brian Lara leading Warwickshire.

Lancashire have a superb record against the Bears in this competition with four consecutive wins including last year's success at Edgbaston.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)