Damage to the Banks Home Riverside caused by Storm Dave was likened to a “war scene” and meant there was no play between Durham and Kent on day three of their Rothesay County Championship clash.
Covers shielding the pitch were blown away from the square, with one ending up in the stands, exposing the wicket to heavy overnight rain, while scaffolding supporting a sightscreen had also fallen over.
The Chester-le-Street ground was closed to spectators for safety reasons and re-opened at lunchtime, but one end of the pitch was deemed too damp following a 3.40pm inspection by the umpires.
Assessing the situation as Durham’s ground staff began the clear up, visiting head coach Adam Hollioake told BBC Kent Sport: “It looks like a war scene.
“There’s been quite a substantial amount of water getting on to the wicket so that’s probably the one thing which is actually affecting the start more than anything.
“You can play cricket without sightscreens and club cricketers all around the country do it every weekend, but at the moment there’s a big patch of water that’s blown off the covers on to the wicket which is going to make it hard for us to start today.”
Storm Dave brought rain and snow plus gale-force winds to parts of the UK, with yellow warnings for areas in northern England, Scotland and Wales.
Durham, strongly fancied for promotion after being relegated on the final day of Division One last year, were in control at the halfway point of their season-opening match.
Emilio Gay’s century underpinned their first-innings 335 and Kent were skittled for 197, with Matthew Potts and Kemar Roach taking three wickets each, before Durham went to stumps on Saturday on 83 for two and a lead of 221.
Hollioake added: “We knew when the fixtures came out, (starting on) April 3, basically up in Scotland – sorry if I’m offending anyone – it was obviously going to be hard coming up here. It’s cold, early season and they’re a good side.
“There’s a bit of pressure on them now because in their mind, they’ll be feeling they’re on top of the game and now they’re going to have to make a decision on how they’re going to get those points. They might have to make a declaration at some stage (on Monday), so let’s see what they come up with.”
PA
