Lancs hope fans will be at T20 ties
CRICKET CHRIS OSTICK
LANCASHIRE are hoping to have supporters back at Emirates Old Trafford this summer after discovering their T20 Blast and Royal London Cup fixtures.
The traditional Roses clashes with Yorkshire – which are both usually sell-outs – have been scheduled late in the campaign in the hope crowds will be allowed back by July.
Because Emirates Old Trafford was being used as a bio-secure venue for international cricket for large parts of last season, Lancashire had to play most of their home games away from the venue.
This summer, all their Blast home matches will be at OT, although two of their 50-over ties will be at outgrounds – one at Blackpool and the other to be decided – while the ground stages Manchester Originals in The Hundred.
Lancashire’s director of cricket Paul Allott said: “We’re pleased to have some certainty with our limited overs schedule for the summer and look forward to contesting all of our home Vitality Blast fixtures at Emirates Old Trafford.
“Following the difficult, but necessary, decision to play so much of our home cricket at outgrounds last summer, it will be a bonus to return to Emirates Old Trafford, hopefully with the backing of crowds as soon as possible.”
Lightning kick off their Blast campaign with back-to-back matches at Emirates Old Trafford against Derbyshire Falcons and Leicestershire Foxes on Wednesday, June 9 and Thursday, June 10.
Lancashire face Yorkshire at Emerald Headingley on Friday, July 2 and then host their rivals on Saturday, July 17 in what could be a decisive final group match. Both matches will be broadcast live on Sky.
Lancashire will play a National Counties friendly fixture against Cumberland on Friday, July 22 as a warm-up to the Royal London Cup campaign, which will then begin the following day at home against Sussex.
Gloucestershire, Kent, Hampshire, Middlesex, Durham, Worcestershire and Essex make up the rest of the group.
The County Championship fixtures were released at the end of last year, with Lancashire starting their campaign on April 8 at Sussex.
VITALITY T20 BLAST June 9 Derbyshire (H, Emirates Old Trafford) 10 Leicestershire (H, EOT) 13 Worcestershire (A, New Road) 15 Derbyshire (A, County Ground) 17 Durham (A, Emirates Riverside) 18 Birmingham (A, Edgbaston) 20 Notts (H, EOT) 25 Northants (A, The County Ground) 26 Notts (A, Trent Bridge) July 1 Worcestershire (H, EOT) 2 Yorkshire (A, Headingley) 9 Northants (H, EOT) 16 Durham (H, EOT) 17 Yorkshire (H, EOT) Quarter-finals August 24-27, Finals day September 18 (Edgbaston) ROYAL LONDON ONE-DAY CUP July 23 Sussex (H, TBC) 25 Gloucester (A, Bristol) 28 Kent (A, Beckenham) August 1 Hampshire (A, Ageas Bowl) 3 Middlesex (H, EOT) 5 Durham (A, Emirates Riverside) 8 Worcestershire (H, Blackpool) 12 Essex (H, EOT) Quarter-finals August 14, Semi-finals August 17, Final August 19 (Trent Bridge)