Overview

Stratford-upon-Avon has had a brief county history, hosting one match against Oxford University in 1951 and two more in 2004 and 2005. After a dull draw against Lancashire in 2004 the 2005 Championship match lasted only two days, Hampshire batting badly against good swing bowling. All Friday's corporate hospitality was lost, including a visit from the council delegation who were underwriting the match. They ended up with no sandwiches or champers and a bill for £30,000 - a bigger loss than the previous year. That was enough to lead Warwickshire to abandon the experiment.
Paul Coupar