Lancashire hoping for fans’ return

LANCASHIRE are hoping to start their County Championship campaign in front of fans in April.

The Red Rose will begin their bid for the title away to Sussex on April 8 before returning to Emirates Old Trafford to face Northamptonshire for their first four-day match at the ground in around 18 months.

With the venue being used as a bio-secure international venue this summer, Lancashire didn’t play any of their home Bob Willis Trophy matches at the stadium.

However, next season they are planning to play all five of their home games in the initial group stage at Emirates Old Trafford.

The County Championship has a different format as clubs adapt to what they hope is a postpandemic era.

Each county has been placed in one of three seeded groups of six, playing every team in their group home and away. The top two in each group will progress to Division One, with the other counties moving into Division Two and Division Three depending on where they finish in the group.

Sides will then play a further four matches against the teams in their division who they didn’t face in the group stage. All teams will, therefore, play 14 Championship games.

The team that finishes top of

Division One will be crowned county champions. And the top two in that

Division will also play a five-day final for the Bob Willis Trophy. It is understood the plan is to return to the two-division County Championship in 2022.

Fixtures for the white ball competitions will be announced early next year.

Lancashire meet Roses rivals

Yorkshire in the group, hosting them on May 27 and then facing their old foes in the last game at Scarborough on July

11. There are also trips to Colwyn Bay and Canterbury for the Red Rose, whose players have already returned to training.

Spectators weren’t allowed in grounds last season for any type of cricket, but the ECB and counties are hoping that may change in 2021.

ECB managing director of county cricket, Neil Snowball, said: “Despite the significant hurdles we faced this year, the domestic game still found a way to play meaningful cricket while ensuring our members and supporters were able to remain close to the game through advanced live streaming of matches.

“We have seen an innovative and collaborative approach between the ECB and the 18 first class counties that has enabled us to plan for 2021 with a new, County Championship structure for 2021 only, designed to be both exciting for players and supporters and also flexible to the possible ongoing impact of Covid-19.

“We are also working hard with all 18 First-Class Counties to ensure that we are able to welcome the return of crowds safely next year.”