Yorkshire complain following abandoned match against Gloucestershire

Yorkshire are understood to have made their displeasure known to the match officials after their LV= County Championship fixture against Gloucestershire at Bristol was abandoned without a ball bowled.

Umpires Billy Taylor and Paul Pollard made the drastic decision during a ground inspection upon arrival on the third morning, after additional heavy overnight rain further saturated the outfield.

It was sufficiently wet under foot in their opinion to discount any prospect of play on Sunday, meaning both sides took five draw points apiece.

However, Yorkshire coach Ottis Gibson is said to have met with the on-field officials and match referee Simon Hinks to express his club’s disappointment at the quality of the covers at Nevil Road.

Water leaked onto the pitch at one end ahead of day one, and the bowlers’ run-ups were particularly sodden, amid suggestions that the protection against the elements was inadequate.

Yorkshire have some good news, though, with Jonny Bairstow set to return to action this week

‘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,’ read a statement from Gloucestershire.

Yorkshire remain winless as a result, having suffered a shock defeat to the 2022 wooden spoonists Leicestershire last week at the start of their first season outside the top flight in 11 years.

Meanwhile, Jonny Bairstow is set to play in Yorkshire’s second XI away match at Leicestershire starting on Monday at Kibworth, as he steps up his fitness ahead of two Championship fixtures against Glamorgan and Durham next month.