Cold snap could delay cricket season

SCOTLAND’s cricket season could be put on hold due to the arctic conditions.

The start of the competitive action is still a month away but bosses have already faced calls to delay it by at least one week.

Groundsmen throughout Scotland are struggling to prepare pitches and the first round of Scottish Cup matches on 20 April looks sure to be disrupted. Ken McCurdie, the country’s groundsman of the year on six occasions, was yesterday still being hampered by wintry conditions. McCurdie, who prepares the wicket at Aberdeenshire’s Mannofield ground, said: “With the wind-chill in Aberdeen it is -4 degrees and it has simply been too cold to get on the square and get cutting. Unfortunately the season has started on the second last weekend in April for the last couple of years and that is at least one week too early.”

Meanwhile, West of Scotland coach John Blain has called on Scottish officials to consider following the lead of their Yorkshire counterparts. Blain said: “Last year the majority of leagues in Yorkshire cancelled their first game and rearranged. With ground preparation severely hampered it is something to look at.”

The first match in a new Pro50 regional series, scheduled for 21 April, could also be affected if there is not an early rise in temperatures.