Twenty-one ‘out-grounds’ across the country are set to host county cricket this coming season, with the Isle of Wight’s ground at Newclose among six staging professional matches for the first time.
Cricket is going ‘out to the people’ as 11 major venues, including the Ageas Bowl, are being used for the ICC World Cup.
Grantham, Newport (Gwent), Sedburgh School, South Northumberland, Welbeck and York are among those set to benefit alongside Newclose.
When Hampshire take the field against Nottinghamshire on May 20, it will be the first time the county has played ‘away’ from the Ageas Bowl since 2000, the final occasion Basingstoke & North Hants’ picturesque ground at May’s Bounty was used.
Ironically, Hampshire’s away match against the Outlaws will also be played on a club ‘out-ground’ with Welbeck Colliery, near Mansfield, hosting the 4-day County Championship match in June.
Nottinghamshire will also play a Royal London Cup match – in Lincolnshire - at Grantham, against Durham in early May.
Newport (South Wales) is one of three club grounds Glamorgan will use in Division 2, with the Welshmen making their annual visit to the Colwyn Bay seaside in August, besides Swansea’s famous St Helen’s, where Sir Garfield Sobers (playing for Nottinghamshire) famously struck Malcolm Nash for the perfect six successive sixes in 1968.
Lancashire’s match against Durham on June 30 almost has a ‘neutral ground’ feel about it with Sedburgh School set amongst the beautiful rolling hills of Cumbria.
Sedburgh got the nod over Southport, whose facilities, by all accounts, weren’t deemed good enough to host a county game in 2019.
The powerful ECB North-East Premier League club South Northumberland will host Durham’s home match against Lancashire in late April, while York’s stunning ground at Clifton Park is, like Newclose, buzzing with anticipation ahead of Yorkshire’s match against Warwickshire in mid-June.
Yorkshire also have two matches at Scarborough, with Kent continuing to use Beckenham and Tunbridge Wells.
With four venues away from Lord’s, Middlesex play the most county games on ‘out-grounds’, with Merchant Taylor’s School, Radlett, Richmond, and Uxbridge on the ‘tube timetable’ list for their regular supporters.
Sussex, following the success of last season’s RLC match at Eastbourne, will return to The Saffrons, besides playing two county championship matches at Arundel.
Surrey play twice this summer at Guildford, while Liverpool gets its annual visit from Lancashire.
With a total of 21 ‘out-grounds’ being used, it all adds up to a fascinating summer ahead for the nomadic cricket supporter tribes, who will relish so many new venues to visit.
Newclose on the Isle of Wight, is top of the ‘wish list’ for many followers, with Hampshire’s ticket office handling numerous enquiries two months ahead of Nottinghamshire’s visit there on May 20.
It will be the first time county cricket has been played on the Isle of Wight since 1962, a mere 57 summers ago !
Cricket is going ‘out to the people’ as 11 major venues, including the Ageas Bowl, are being used for the ICC World Cup.
Grantham, Newport (Gwent), Sedburgh School, South Northumberland, Welbeck and York are among those set to benefit alongside Newclose.
When Hampshire take the field against Nottinghamshire on May 20, it will be the first time the county has played ‘away’ from the Ageas Bowl since 2000, the final occasion Basingstoke & North Hants’ picturesque ground at May’s Bounty was used.
Ironically, Hampshire’s away match against the Outlaws will also be played on a club ‘out-ground’ with Welbeck Colliery, near Mansfield, hosting the 4-day County Championship match in June.
Nottinghamshire will also play a Royal London Cup match – in Lincolnshire - at Grantham, against Durham in early May.
Newport (South Wales) is one of three club grounds Glamorgan will use in Division 2, with the Welshmen making their annual visit to the Colwyn Bay seaside in August, besides Swansea’s famous St Helen’s, where Sir Garfield Sobers (playing for Nottinghamshire) famously struck Malcolm Nash for the perfect six successive sixes in 1968.
Lancashire’s match against Durham on June 30 almost has a ‘neutral ground’ feel about it with Sedburgh School set amongst the beautiful rolling hills of Cumbria.
Sedburgh got the nod over Southport, whose facilities, by all accounts, weren’t deemed good enough to host a county game in 2019.
The powerful ECB North-East Premier League club South Northumberland will host Durham’s home match against Lancashire in late April, while York’s stunning ground at Clifton Park is, like Newclose, buzzing with anticipation ahead of Yorkshire’s match against Warwickshire in mid-June.
Yorkshire also have two matches at Scarborough, with Kent continuing to use Beckenham and Tunbridge Wells.
With four venues away from Lord’s, Middlesex play the most county games on ‘out-grounds’, with Merchant Taylor’s School, Radlett, Richmond, and Uxbridge on the ‘tube timetable’ list for their regular supporters.
Sussex, following the success of last season’s RLC match at Eastbourne, will return to The Saffrons, besides playing two county championship matches at Arundel.
Surrey play twice this summer at Guildford, while Liverpool gets its annual visit from Lancashire.
With a total of 21 ‘out-grounds’ being used, it all adds up to a fascinating summer ahead for the nomadic cricket supporter tribes, who will relish so many new venues to visit.
Newclose on the Isle of Wight, is top of the ‘wish list’ for many followers, with Hampshire’s ticket office handling numerous enquiries two months ahead of Nottinghamshire’s visit there on May 20.
It will be the first time county cricket has been played on the Isle of Wight since 1962, a mere 57 summers ago !
