LIVERPOOL TO HOST LANCASHIRE V NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Lancashire County Cricket Club have announced that Liverpool’s Aigburth ground will host their four-day LV= County Championship game against Nottinghamshire on July 13-16.

During 2013, the Red Rose held two matches at both Liverpool and Southport & Birkdale CCs, but following the completion of the redevelopment at Old Trafford it was decided that only one fixture would be held away from HQ this coming season.

However, the county’s Cricket Director Mike Watkinson was at pains to stress that the decision as to where to allocate the 2014 fixture has been far from straightforward.

“For a number of reasons, the selection of our outground venue for this fixture has been a tough process,” he said. “However, after much deliberation we have decided to place this fixture with Liverpool CC.

“Over a number of seasons there has been significant investment in the pitches at Aigburth and also off-field facilities such as the dressing rooms. Southport & Birkdale CC have done a great job in recent years and put in a compelling case to host this fixture but the cricket benefits of playing at Liverpool ultimately won the day.

“There will be future opportunities for Southport & Birkdale CC and also Blackpool CC, and we will maintain dialogue with all parties.”

 

The news will come as a blow to Southport and Birkdale whose officials worked very hard to host games in 2011 and 2013. But the Trafalgar Road top brass can be encouraged by Watkinson’s words and by the reassurance that the venue has proved itself a viable option for future games. It is expected that S&B’s ground will host a Lancashire second team game this summer.

 

Meanwhile, cricket fans on Merseyside can look forward to the Nottinghamshire fixture in July. In 2011 the Trent Bridge side played at Southport and comfortably defeated Glen Chapple’s men.   

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

* See Management Bulletins for the 2014 Med Imaging L&DCC 1st and 2nd X1 fixtures