By Graham Hardcastle
Yorkshire will open the doors of their new Emerald Stand for this weekend’s one-day international between England and Pakistan, with the club believing it is the symbol for a bright future both on and off the field at Headingley.
Sunday’s fifth ODI, the last in the series, marks both countries’ final competitive fixture before the World Cup starts at the end of the month.
Headingley will host four matches during the World Cup and then an Ashes Test Match, the third in the series (August 22-26), for the first time in 10 years.
“There’s so much to embrace about 2019. It’s a special one-off year,” said White Rose chief executive Mark Arthur.
“I think it is exciting for all cricket in this country, but for us there is a real difference in that we’re going to be able to showcase the new stand.
“When you look out at the ground and you see the shape of it, it’s a proper cricket ground. We truly have world-class facilities here all the way around the ground for the first time ever.
“With the amount of exciting cricket that’s going on in this country – the World Cup, the Ashes, this one-day series, the Championship, the T20 Blast, the positive talk now about the Hundred – it’s brilliant for everyone.
“From a club perspective, we now have a balanced structure within the coaching set-up and good balance and variety in our playing squad.
“Some of the lads coming up through the Academy system are also going to keep the senior lads on their toes. There’s good healthy competition.
