Weather wins as cricket season delayed

With the dreadful start to spring anticipated to continue, cricket chiefs have been left with no option but to delay the start to the season.

In an email to clubs last night, the Shropshire Cricket League, which includes Newtown, Welshpool, Montgomery, Guilsfield and Llanidloes, said that the decision was being made to ease the pressure on grounds teams frantically trying to prepare their grounds for the April 27 start date.

“The weather is not getting any better and grounds are already saturated with no signs of improvement,” clubs were told, adding that the opening round of fixtures on April 27 would be moved to the back end of the season for September 28.

“We wanted to let clubs know so that their groundsmen are not slaving away this weekend trying to get ready for the 27^th, hopefully this action buys more time.”

The move was welcomed by Guilsfield & Llandrinio Cricket Club Chairman, David Williams, who said his club were contemplating switching their opening fixture to the all-weather strip at Llandrinio.

“We’ve never faced problems like this before because of the weather,” he said. “Our ground is saturated, including the outfield, and unless there is a drastic change in weather soon we will continue to face challenges to be ready for the week after.”