The Spin | World Cup year means county cricket gives outgrounds chance to shine


Newport on the Isle of Wight will host first-class cricket for the first time while Lancashire are set to play at ‘home’ in Sedbergh

Glamorgan took the field against Gloucestershire on Tuesday morning on a well-tended ground in the suburbs of Newport with the rather unfortunate name of Spytty Park. They thus added a small footnote to their 98-year Championship history, making Spytty their 14th first-class ground.

In recent years such events have been rarities in county cricket. For decades the counties (and, with more regret, their followers) have been saying goodbye to the outgrounds and festival venues that once added hugely to the charm and variety of the cricket circuit.

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