A test game to see whether the new Lancashire Cricket ground at Farington is match ready will take place next week.
Work on the multi-million pound ground at Stanifield Lane is nearly complete and eyes are turning as to whether it will be ready to host county cricket games this summer as planned.
A T20 game against South Asian Cricket Academy is taking place behind closed doors on Tuesday (30 June).
Lancashire Cricket say the match ‘will provide an important opportunity to test the wicket and wider cricket infrastructure on the professional oval.’
Training session for the Lancashire men’s and women’s sides have already been held at the Farington Ovals while the Old Trafford site is restricted due to the Women’s T20 World Cup fixtures.
A number of community events have also taken place as part of the Lancashire Cricket Foundation’s work to invite schools and community groups to the site.
Two Metro Bank One-Day Cup games are currently scheduled to be played in late July.
As well as the game next week there’s also a further test event on Wednesday 8 July when Lancashire under-16 girls take on Cheshire in a 50-over fixture which can be attended by members and supporters with ticket information available from Monday (29 June).
Director of cricket performance at Lancashire Cricket, Mark Chilton, said: “A huge amount of work has taken place at Farington throughout the summer, and I’d like to thank all of the staff who have been working tirelessly on site to get us to this stage.
“We’re confident that the men’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup fixtures on 28 and 30 July will be played at Farington, but it is imperative that we test the playing surface and cricket infrastructure during the behind-closed-doors Second XI games on 30 June. Following those matches, the Club hopes to be in a position to confirm the venue for the 50 over fixtures.
“I’d like to thank members for their patience, and the Club will communicate once a final decision has been made regarding the matches at the end of July.”
