England News Round-up (22 Jul 1998)

CHESTERFIELD'S picturesque Queen's Park, which celebrated 100 years as a county cricket venue this summer, will no longer stage first-class matches for Derbyshire

22-Jul-1998

22 July 1998

Derbyshire tighten boundary

By Neil Hallam

CHESTERFIELD'S picturesque Queen's Park, which celebrated 100 years as a county cricket venue this summer, will no longer stage first-class matches for Derbyshire.

After yesterday's special meeting of the county's general committee it was announced: "We have agreed that in future all first-class fixtures will be concentrated at the County Ground in Derby. "This decision was based entirely on the necessity to focus all efforts on developing the County Ground. With the amount of first-class cricket likely to be reduced in future, it is vital on commercial grounds to take this step."

The decision was made virtually inevitable by the recent purchase of the grandstand area at the County Ground from Wolverhampton Breweries for UKP 370,000 and by poor attendances for the cricket festival at Queen's Park earlier this season.

Devon Malcolm, who left Derbyshire last season and has since upset former team-mates with unflattering statements in his autobiography, comes face to face with them today when he takes the new ball for Northamptonshire in a championship game at Wantage Road.

Gloucestershire are close to finalising redundancy terms for Philip August, who joined the club 12 years ago as secretary. He was given the title of cricket secretary two years ago when Colin Sexstone was employed as chief executive.

Today's cricket

11am start

BRITANNIC ASSURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP (1st day of 4)

Colwyn Bay: Glamorgan v Lancs.
Cheltenham: Gloucs v Surrey.
Portsmouth: Hants v Notts.
Lord's: Middx v Yorks.
Northampton: Northants v Derbys (12).
Taunton: Somerset v Durham.

2ND XI CHAMPIONSHIP (1st day of 3)

Riverside: Durham v Derbys.
Usk: Glamorgan v Warwicks.
Maidstone: Kent v Northants.
Hinckley Town: Leics v Worcs.
Hastings: Sussex v Middx.

AON Trophy (1 day)

Bristol: Gloucs v Hants.

MINOR COUNTIES

Cambridge (Fenner's): Cambs v Bucks (Grade rules).
Lakenham: Norfolk v Herts.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)