Umpires make call before play on day three with no prospect of improved conditions

ECB Reporters Network15-Apr-2023Gloucestershire’s LV= County Championship Second Division match against Yorkshire at Bristol has been abandoned without a ball bowled.Umpires Billy Taylor and Paul Pollard made the decision after inspecting the outfield on arrival at the Seat Unique Stadium ahead of what would have been day three of the four-day fixture.More heavy rain overnight had fallen on the already saturated ground and it was so wet in some areas that there was no likelihood of conditions becoming playable even on day four.A statement issued by Gloucestershire read: “Due to extremely high amounts of rain in the weeks and days leading up to and during this match, we have an abnormally high water table and had no reasonable prospect of the outfield drying and creating a safe playing surface for players.”The club’s Performance Director Steve Snell said: “It’s extremely disappointing, especially in view of how hard our ground staff have worked in an effort to get the game started. The weather has been so wet that they faced an impossible task.”The result leaves both teams winless after two rounds of the County Championship, following Yorkshire’s opening-week loss to Leicestershire and Gloucestershire’s draw with Glamorgan.