Northamptonshire were 116-2 in reply to Gloucestershire's 125 before umpires abandoned play, with two batters retiring hurt; Ricardo Vasconcelos taken to hospital with suspected broken finger; Gloucestershire expect ECB investigation
Thursday 29 August 2024 19:23, UK
The County Championship Division Two match between Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire was abandoned on day one of play on Thursday after the umpires deemed the Bristol pitch too dangerous to play on.
A Gloucestershire statement read that the umpires felt there was a "foreseeable risk to the batters" on the hybrid pitch and that they expected an ECB investigation into the matter.
Northamptonshire were 116-2 in reply to Gloucestershire's 125 before the umpires called a halt early in the final session, following blows to the hand for Ricardo Vasconcelos and Rob Keogh off the bowling of paceman Ajeet Singh Dale.
Both batters were forced to retire hurt, and the visitors said Vasconcelos had been taken to hospital with a suspected broken finger.
The hybrid pitch had been used by Gloucestershire before this season - against Middlesex in May and on a neighbouring pitch against Leicestershire earlier this week - with no issues arising.
But the hosts were bowled out in just 36.1 overs on Thursday before Northamptonshire's retirement-laden reply.
"Gloucestershire's match against Northants has been abandoned after the umpires deemed there to be 'a foreseeable risk to the batters'," read a Gloucestershire statement.
"Whilst we acknowledge that this is not something anyone would have wanted to happen, we need to see, understand and discuss the match referee's report before making further comment on the decision.
"We expect there will be an ECB investigation and we will of course assist them at all stages of that investigation."
The decision from the umpires followed consultations with both captains, the groundstaff, the match referee and the ECB pitch inspectors at Lord's.
Northamptonshire will collect 11 points for a draw, including three bowling bonus points, but Gloucestershire will receive none. It remains to be seen whether or not the county will face any further sanction.
The umpires issued a brief statement, which read: "The match has been abandoned because there was a foreseeable risk to the batters. In the opinion of the umpires, it would be unreasonable to continue."
Justin Broad had produced a career-best bowling performance as he returned figures of seven for 33 in 15.1 overs with seven maidens.
Gloucestershire lost openers Cameron Bancroft and Ben Charlesworth inside six overs.
Broad bowled Bancroft before Charlesworth pushed tentatively at an angled delivery from Luke Procter and offered a straightforward catch to second slip.
Procter struck again in his next over, Miles Hammond swishing at a ball outside off stump and nicking to second slip. James Bracey was unfortunately run out when Dom Leach diverted an Ollie Price drive onto the stumps with the batsman at the non-striker's end backing up.
Graeme van Buuren feathered a catch to second slip to gift Broad his second wicket and the South African's dismissal for a run-a-ball 40 with the score on 93 sparked a calamitous collapse, Tom Price fell lbw to Broad before Zafar Gohar shouldered arms to a straight one from Broad, who then pinned Ollie Price lbw for 52.
Broad then accounted for tailenders Dom Goodman and Zaman Akhter in quick succession.
It was still tricky batting as Prithvi Shaw and Vasconcelos staged an opening partnership of 50 in 11.1 overs, only for the latter to then edge a catch behind off Singh Dale.
Vasconcelos advanced his score to 21 before retiring hurt, after which Procter and Keogh added an unbeaten 49 for the third wicket before proceedings were halted.
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