Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Yorkshire’s general manager of cricket Gavin Hamilton is looking forward to Wednesday’s trip to Ampleforth College.
A new venue will be introduced for first-team cricket next Wednesday when Yorkshire’s women host Surrey in a Metro Bank One-Day Cup clash at Ampleforth College, starting at 10.30am.
“It’s as picturesque a venue as we’re going to get,” said general manager of cricket Gavin Hamilton.
Scarborough has been a favourite out-ground for the White Rose county forever and a day, while York has come onto the scene in recent years and has impressed players and supporters alike.
The county continue to explore other venues within the Broad Acres as well. Shaw Lane, Barnsley is the preferred option in South Yorkshire, for example.
“I’ve been up to Ampleforth for some of the regional festivals we host and have done a bit around the County Age-Group stuff as well,” continued Hamilton.
“We’ve got a very good partnership with Ampleforth in general.
“The pitches there are as good as anywhere in the county, which is my first port of call before we do anything else.
“Then you just take a step back and you look, and it’s a beautiful ground. It’s a beautiful viewing area, so people can sit around the banking, and it’s a traditional pavilion.
Picture courtesy of Ampleforth College. Yorkshire’s women are heading to a new home venue on Wednesday.
“Everything’s just ready-made.”
Away from Headingley, Yorkshire’s women have played at Scarborough, Weetwood and York during the last two seasons of Tier 2 and Tier 1 action, also hosting a Vitality County T20 Cup tie against Derbyshire at Harrogate last May.
“With the women’s game, we don’t want to be too Headingley centric,” said Hamilton.
“We’re making a conscious effort to get out to five or six different grounds around the county over the next three to four years.
“We want to spread the word and showcase the women as best as we can. As I say, at Ampleforth, they ticked every box, and it will be good to build things up there.
“There’s no reason why, going forwards, we can’t use that venue a lot more.
“They do things right up there, and I’ve got every faith that they will help put on a fantastic day.
“It’ll just be a really good experience for everybody, because I think it’s one of those destination grounds where people want to go and watch – and it’ll have that sort of quintessential feel about it.”
