Yorkshire could lose a lot of money – Moxon

The NatWest T20 Blast match against Lancashire at Headingley was abandoned without a ball bowled due to heavy rain.

Yorkshire, who had been expecting a 16,200 sell-out, and who insisted they could have sold another 5,000 tickets, are set to lose what they termed an “unquantifiable sum” of money.

Although the club do not have to give out refunds, spectators can exchange their ticket for a day’s play at one of Yorkshire’s remaining games at Headingley this year or for the corresponding match against Lancashire next summer.

Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s 
director of cricket, admitted it was a bad night for the club financially.

“Although we don’t have to give money back, people can exchange their tickets and potentially we could lose a lot of money,” he said.

“Financially, the Lancashire match is always a big money-spinner for us.

“It’s a significant night in terms of the club’s budget.

“It’s certainly not ideal and, potentially, a big hit.”

Apart from the financial blow, the weather denied Yorkshire the opportunity to put on a great show.

The meeting between the teams at Old Trafford earlier this month was blessed with everything that makes the format work – exciting cricket, big-name players, a sizeable crowd and glorious weather.

“Everyone was really looking forward to this match, particularly with the game we’ve just had at Old Trafford,” said Moxon.

“The fact the Headingley game sold out quite a while ago shows how much interest the public had in it, and it’s desperately disappointing for everyone who came along not to see any cricket.

“The one night you want it to be at least dry you get really bad weather.

“The atmosphere would have been great, and these are the matches you want to be involved in.”

Last night’s washout was Yorkshire’s second in this year’s T20 tournament.

The game against Warwickshire at Edgbaston was also abandoned, with Yorkshire having won three and lost one of their other four fixtures.

“I’ve been really pleased with our form in the competition,” said Moxon, whose side are back in T20 action today against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge (2.30pm start).

“We had a very good performance in our previous T20 game at Northants, which came on the back of an excellent win against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

“We’ve got a busy week coming up with another four T20 games in the space of seven days, and we need to keep the momentum going.

“We all know that Twenty20 is a game of momentum and hopefully we can keep our good form going.”

Spectators can exchange their tickets from last night for any of Yorkshire’s remaining matches at Headingley this year in the T20 Blast, 50-Over Cup or for a day’s play in a County Championship game. This does not include knockout matches in one-day competitions.

Alternatively, they can exchange their tickets for the T20 match against Lancashire next year provided they do so by July 25.

For full ticket exchange information, visit www.yorkshireccc.com

Worcestershire suffered their first washout in the NatWest T20 Blast north group this season when their meeting with Nottinghamshire fell victim to a thunderstorm at New Road.

Surface water from earlier rain greeted Nottinghamshire when they arrived and the umpires Nick Cook and Paul Baldwin were forced to call off any hopes of play shortly after 7pm with the parts of the ground under water after another downpour.

As the team playing catch-up in the group, the call-off was probably a bigger setback for Nottinghamshire, who remain four points behind Worcestershire with a game in hand, which they will play against Yorkshire at Trent Bride today.

Notts’ director of cricket, Mick Newell, said it was not the way he would have wanted to see a halt to what he called “the best 10 days of my career in terms of running the team”.

He had seen his squad joining Yorkshire at the top of Division One in the LV= County Championship with wins against Middlesex and Somerset while in the Twenty20 competition they piled up 200-plus totals in beating Leicestershire and Derbyshire.

Notts wicketkeeper Chris Read said: “It’s bitterly disappointing. We turned up full of confidence and wanted to keep the momentum going.”

For Worcestershire, the disappointment was in being unable to extend a six-game winning 
sequence.