CHILLY MID ON

2023-03-29 -

Next week heralds the start of the new cricket season – not that the British weather is always happy to play ball, bowling freezing conditions at players and the hardy spectators. SHARON GREEN looks back at some of the times the only thing the fielders caught was a cold...

APRIL 23, 1975

ALL BY MYSELF: A lone spectator braves the cold to watch the match between the MCC and Worcestershire at Lord’s in London.

APRIL 5, 1961

SNOW JOKE: Yorkshire’s opening pair Bryan Stott, left, and Ken Taylor in the snow at Headingley, Leeds.

APRIL 21, 2000

STREWTH! Australian pace bowler Glenn McGrath looks to the skies before his competitive debut for Worcestershire as rain lashed the pitch.

APRIL 13, 1999

BOWLED OVER: Former Australian player and Durham skipper David Boon can’t believe the first day of the cricket season is a whitewash with heavy snow at the Riverside ground in Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

APRIL 24, 1972

COLD COMFORT: Johnny Gleeson, the Australian right arm spin bowler, was taking no chances with the cold English weather when he arrived at Lord’s carrying an armful of sweaters for his Aussie teammates ahead of their match against Gloucestershire.

APRIL 9, 1973

SNOW BALL: New Lancashire skipper David Lloyd will have had trouble bowling this ball.

APRIL 10, 2003

SLIPPY WICKET: Snow, sleet and rain had arrived on cue for the start of the season at Cambridge University, with the groundsmen trying to get the pitch perfect for the game against Essex.

APRIL 18, 2000

THE RAIN ON SHANE: Australian spin wizard Shane Warne at the County Ground in Southampton hoping the rain will stop in time for his debut for Hampshire against Essex.

APRIL 2, 1970

GLOVEWORK: South African-born England cricketer Tony Greig wearing an extra-thick Afghan coat and gloves to ward off the cold during a pre-season training session.