Rain washes out play at Headingley
ENGLAND batter Harry Brook’s first competitive innings of the year was delayed by the weather as day three of the Vitality County Championship clash between Yorkshire and Leicestershire was abandoned without a ball bowled at Headingley yesterday.
Overnight rain continued into the morning and returned just before three planned starts at 3.40pm, 4.30pm and 4.45pm.
Sunshine and high winds during the late morning and early afternoon raised hopes that play could take place, but umpires Mark Newell and Jack Shantry called an end to the day just before 4.45pm.
Yorkshire would have resumed their reply to a first-innings 354 on 72 for two, with Adam Lyth unbeaten on 43 and George Hill alongside him on 13.
Brook is carded to bat at number five in this opening-round Division Two fixture.
The 25-year-old has not batted in a competitive fixture since December 21 when he scored seven as England lost the last of five T20s against the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago.
The death of his grandmother, Pauline, saw him pull out of England’s Test series in India at the start of this year and he has since opted against going to the ongoing Indian Premier League, where he was due to play for Delhi Capitals.
Instead, he is playing the first five Championship matches of the season for the White Rose county.
Brook hit 74 off 42 balls a week ago in a friendly against Division One side Durham.
Meanwhile, Durham and Hampshire continue to wait for the start of their County Championship season as play was abandoned in Chester-le-Street for a third consecutive day.
Consistent overnight downpours have made the outfield unplayable and yesterday’s scheduled action was called off before the planned start time of 11am.
The wait for Division One cricket to return to the Seat Unique Riverside continues, much to the frustration of both sides who have big ambitions for the season.
Durham and Hampshire will hope the outfield is deemed playable so they can finally start proceedings today.
With a result seemingly out of the question, the focus on the final day will firmly be on bonus points, which could prove vital by the end of the season.