Groundstaff efforts in vain as day three is abandoned

The efforts of the Old Trafford groundstaff once the rain finally ceased in the early hours of this morning (Saturday) ultimately proved fruitless as play was abandoned for the second day in succession just after lunch.

With the rain unrelenting throughout Friday and well into the night-hours of Saturday, it was always likely to be a tough ask to get the ground fit for play and so was the case when the umpires, Barry Dudleston and Nigel Llong were joined by the two captains and coaches to snuff out any hope on day three.

Hampshire skipper Will Kendall told the Hampshire web-site shortly after the inspection, "Full marks to the groundstaff who have worked very hard.

"But some areas of the ground, especially at the Stretford End are very wet, to the point of being just plain muddy and with no wind or any sign of the sun, there was no point in waiting for nothing much to happen."

Peter Marron, the Lancashire head groundsman admitted that it would take "a heat-wave today" to dry the ground in time, but there is hope for a resumption on the final day (Sunday), as the groundsmen attempt to further improve the state of the ground - whilst everyone else heads home.