Lancashire fear doom over the future of Test cricket (From Chorley Citizen)

Lancashire fear doom over the future of Test cricket

3:40pm Tuesday 22nd December 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(2)

ONE of the most historic venues in world cricket could disappear from the international map unless a multi-million pound development is given the go ahead.

Lancashire CCC wants to upgrade Old Trafford, the scene of magical moments such as Jim Laker’s 10 wickets in an Ashes innings, to ensure there is a future for Test matches.

The development is facing opposition from residents – and chief executive Jim Cumbes fears the worst if the plan is knocked back.

“The worst case scenario is not very good,” Cumbes said. “If our application is unsuccessful, there will be no Test cricket at Old Trafford.

“It’s not just Old Trafford, it would affect the whole of the north west and would be a travesty for cricket fans.”

The second oldest Test venue in the England, stages a Test against Bangladesh as well as a one-day game with Australia next summer but the future is bleak.

And a sign of things to come came this year when Old Trafford, where Shane Warne introduced himself to the world with his ‘ball of the century’ in 1993, missed out on an Ashes Test.

“We want the Ashes back at Old Trafford in 2013,” said Cumbes. “We are in the calendar for 2014 and 2016 but the Ashes is what we desire. But the fact is if this development doesn’t go ahead, there’ll be no more international cricket here.

“It didn’t feel right to have an Ashes summer without an Old Trafford Test. I, along with generations of others, was brought up watching Test cricket here and it is hard to imagine England not playing here.”

Phase one of the scheme is underway but phase two involves a complete closure of the ground in 2011.

Headingley has been transformed in recent years – and figures released by Yorkshire Forward show the Leeds economy was boosted by almost £4m during the three days of August’s Test.

And World Twenty20 at Trent Bridge saw a £12.1m boost to the Nottingham.

“Those figures highlight why we are right to try and bring international cricket back,” added Cumbes.

If the application goes through there is still no guarantee of winning the Ashes because of the bidding for the rights.

“Having a nice new ground doesn’t mean you will be back on the rota.

“With the likes of Cardiff, Durham and Hampshire bidding there’s competition. But it isn’t about the highest bid and I would hope that with the development and the history we would be looked upon favourably.

“But it is our aim to bring back the Ashes to Old Trafford and restore what we would like to call the natural order.”