Jordan Thompson is ‘wishing you were here’ to give the Lancastrians some stick during tomorrow night’s Roses clash at Emerald Headingley.
The behind closed doors nature of this summer’s cricket has been strange – in the Bob Willis Trophy, the Vitality Blast and the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for the women.
But that feeling will only intensify for this week’s two televised Roses Blast clashes with Lancashire, at Emerald Headingley tomorrow and Emirates Old Trafford on Thursday.
Both games are usually the best days of the year, with packed crowds and fervent atmospheres the norm instead of eery silence.
The North Group clashes, with huge consequences in terms of quarter-final qualification, will both be televised by Sky Sports (6.35pm).
But they still won’t be the same, as in-form all-rounder Thompson explains.
“It was very strange playing in that first Blast game here against Derbyshire (August 30),” said the 23-year-old.
“It was just weird, more so than four-day cricket.
“In four-day cricket, you usually get a murmur but don’t expect the noise you get in a T20.
“In that Derby game, we even had to be wary of how loudly we were talking to each other on the bench because, usually, you can talk quite loudly with the crowd drowning you out. But you could hear a pin drop.
“So if you talked too loud, the opposition could potentially hear you out on the field.
“Once you’re out there fielding, it doesn’t feel any different because you just block everything else out.
“But the Roses games will be very, very strange because we all know how good the atmospheres are.
“I haven’t actually played in one at Old Trafford, only running the drinks. And when they get the big stand there full, it’s like a football crowd.
“Fingers crossed it’s just these two games that it has to be like this and we can get back to normal next year because we really miss having crowds in.”
Thompson also has an interesting take on which team the lack of a crowd favours.
“It probably will favour the away teams in both games,” he said.
“Going there to Old Trafford, we usually get abused on the boundary and them here in front of the Western Terrace. It’s uncomfortable because nobody likes being shouted at, and does it maybe create a level playing field? Yes, I think so.
“But it’s on TV – both are – and it will still be intense. We definitely don’t want to be losing to them.
