Yorkshire's hard work unrewarded as fans shun neutral Test

"Shahid Afridi – Pakistan's captain is licensed to thrill" read the large front page headline accompanied by a photograph of Afridi playing one of his trademark booming drives.

As the world and his wife are no doubt aware, Afridi resigned after one game as Pakistan captain immediately after last week's 150-run defeat to Australia at Lord's.

He is not even playing in the second Test at Leeds, where his place was taken by Shoaib Malik in the only change to the teams that locked horns in London.

Afridi was not the only one missing yesterday from Yorkshire's most important occasion of the summer.

Also absent were the thousands of spectators the club hoped to attract following a determined publicity and marketing campaign.

Indeed, so few were present when play began at 10.30am beneath leaden skies that it was almost possible to conduct a head count.

"Would Yorkshire expect more for a County Championship Roses match?" enquired someone in the press box.

The question was rhetorical and tongue-in-cheek.

Although the attendance perked up somewhat as Pakistan prospered, only 4,329 turned out in muggy conditions.

The anticipated walk-up of Asian spectators never materialised – reflecting, perhaps, the limited appetite for Test cricket in this country unless England are playing.

But for the concentration of Pakistan supporters in the lower section of the North-East Stand, many of whom were children, there would have been precious little atmosphere.

The constant chanting of those children gave the occasion the feel of a schoolboy football internationals at a semi-deserted Wembley Stadium.

Even the West Stand – normally full-to-bursting during England games – delivered a passable impression of the Mary Celeste, with only a few people scattered in the marine blue seats where the Barmy Army traditionally congregate.

None of which detracted from Yorkshire's efforts to put on a show.

Even beneath the vast banks of cloud which enveloped Headingley, the ground still looked in excellent order.

The new 21m Carnegie Pavilion – officially opened during the lunch interval by HRH The Duke of Gloucester – received its first significant test and passed with flying colours, although the architecture continues to polarise opinion.

Where Yorkshire emerged with most credit yesterday was that play was actually able to start on time.

As anyone living in the Headingley area could testify, that was quite remarkable given the volume of rain that fell on Tuesday night and during the early hours of yesterday morning.

According to Stewart Regan, Yorkshire's chief executive, 6.8cm tumbled onto the famous old venue.

But groundsman Andy Fogarty and his dedicated team worked tirelessly through the night to ensure a prompt beginning.

Last year, when England's one-day international against the West Indies at Headingley was washed out amid criticism of the venue's new drainage system, Regan cut a flustered figure as he came in for his share of unjustified stick in the national media.

Yesterday he wore a happier expression, although he will be hoping Pakistan's inspirational performance yesterday encourages a few more supporters to turn up today.