Atmosphere crushed by health and safety
HAVING attended the first two days of the England v New Zealand Test match at Edgbaston, Birmingham, and the two T20 cricket matches between England and Sri Lanka in Cardiff, the experience could not have been more different.
This in no way reflects on Glamorgan Cricket Club, of which I am a member, but on the Welsh Government who made a mockery of the attendance capacity and the match- day atmosphere.
At Edgbaston, 18,000 spectators were allowed in each day out of a capacity of 25,000 and we had to go through stringent Covid testing 24 hours before each day’s play and five days after attending.
At Cardiff our government allowed just 2,500 out of a capacity of 15,000, with no checks, and vast swathes of the ground were left empty. It was sad to see a ground that is usually buzzing with enthusiasm looking so rejected. Consequently, the atmosphere was crushed and I’m sure that came through on the pitch and via the television broadcast. It was health and safety gone mad.
My sympathies lie with Glamorgan who are trying to bring topclass cricket to Wales, to showcase how well we in Wales can promote top-level sport, as we have done so successfully for many years. Glamorgan have been miserably let down by Mark Drakeford and his government.
Why weren’t the same Covid testing protocols applied here, as at Edgbaston, to increase the crowd level, which would have made it a far more enjoyable experience for spectators, players and television viewers?
It worked safely at Edgbaston; why not Sophia Gardens? Another huge opportunity lost to promote our country.