ECB Boost to Rose Bowls international future

The England and Wales Cricket Board has given Hampshire Cricket's hopes of staging a one day international next year a boost.

The ECB is keeping a close eye on events at the Rose Bowl after the International Cricket Council's decision to approve the ground as worthy of staging a one-day international.

West Indies legend Clive Lloyd visited The Rose Bowl on behalf of the ICC last month before submitting what the club described as `a glowing report'.

Now the next step is for the ECB to rubber stamp the ICC's backing but their criteria is more thorough and will involve more detailed study of the quality of the square.

But John Carr, head of the ECB's cricket operations department, had some encouraging words for Hampshire Cricket.

He said: "If there are no problems with the pitches for the rest of the season, everything should go ahead.

"Only if things go badly does the situation become more concerning."

Two more championship games are to be played at The Rose Bowl this season - against Yorkshire on Tuesday and against Surrey on September 11.

A one-day match between Zimbabwe and South Africa next July will be the first international to be held at The Rose Bowl if the ECB give the thumbs up.

But an announcement from domestic cricket's governing body is not expected until the endd of the season.

The ECB are monitoring all grounds with equal scrutiny before deciding which will host one-day internationals next year.

Durham had to wait four years before staging their first one-day international at The Riverside Stadium, Chester-Le-Street but, at the start of the season, Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove was confident of bringing Test cricket to The Rose Bowl in 2005.