Lancashire Lightning v Notts Outlaws: Match abandoned
Outground cricket is a part of the game with its own unique charms.
A little rustic, yes. A little rough around the edges, certainly. But the sparseness of the stands, the marquees punctuating the boundary’s edge, bring their own appeal.
Closer to the action – and, in many ways, closer to the experience of those who first watched bat laid on ball centuries ago.
In the sunshine, that is.
The Outlaws received a wet welcome as they moored up amidst the puddles at Aigburth.
Posted to a marquee in front of Liverpool Cricket Club’s historic pavilion, the sound of raindrops on canvas threatened to drown out any conversation, no matter how animated.
The scheduled start time of 2.30pm came and went without the umpires even taking a cursory look outside.
With no break in the conditions forthcoming, the officials ultimately bowed to the inevitable, abandoning the day’s play.
That remarkable afternoon in Durham aside, the Outlaws’ have suffered nothing but travails on their travels during this Blast campaign – all caused by the uncooperative English weather.
Five of Notts’ remaining six T20 fixtures are to take place at Trent Bridge. With two wins from two completed games so far, a change of fortunes on the field isn’t needed. A change of luck overhead certainly is.