Yorkshire `friendly' match is abandoned after crowd abuse

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Wednesday 23rd Jun 2004.

Yorkshire's Second XI match against Bradford-Leeds Universities' Centre of Excellence at Park Avenue had to be abandoned when spectators became abusive towards the Yorkshire fielders.

The one-day game was the second of two fixtures between the sides on the famous ground in three days and Yorkshire were in a winning position when the Universities lost their sixth wicket with the dismissal of Spen Victoria all-rounder Kez Ahmed.

A group of youths who were supporting the home side then became abusive towards Yorkshire, threatening paceman John Blain as he fielded on the boundary edge.

Yorkshire batting coach Kevin Sharp and Universities' coach Richard Horner were both present and after consultations the umpires agreed that the game should be called off in the interests of the players' safety.

Horner said: "It is not how we wanted to finish the season at Park Avenue, with something unsavoury like that. It is something which got out of hand."

Yorkshire's director of cricket David Byas said: "I have received a full account of what happened from Kevin Sharp and have submitted a report for Yorkshire's Management Board. Sadly, the only reasonable course of action was to abandon the game."

This is the fourth year that the ECB-backed Centre of Excellence have used Park Avenue as their headquarters and there were problems at the start of this season through vandalism. Now there is talk the Centre may switch to new headquarters next year at Leeds University's playing fields at Weetwood.

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