Scarborough now, York next – why outgrounds are future of county cricket

The folk streaming through Scarborough’s famous gate on Thursday morning didn’t need a fatuous slogan to remind them that every ball counts in a cricket match. They’ve known it since childhood.
Nor would they have appreciated being told that cricket is a simple game. They know well that it’s not. On the contrary, they have long been aware that it is a sport of almost limitless complexity.
So if you needed an illustration of the bifurcation currently existing in English cricket and of the game’s ability to attract very different audiences, you could have done no better than study the crowd who saw Northern Superchargers take on London Spirit in the Hundred a week last Tuesday and compare them with the people watching Yorkshire play Sussex in a vital County Championship match this week.
ECB officials are probably delighted by the contrast. Attracting new audiences to the game and making pots of money in the process is what the Hundred is all about.
But while the meerkat maniacs might be delighted, some county executives at Hundred venues are currently considering what might be done to attract customers to red-ball cricket and whether this links to the pressure on Test match grounds, especially those that will also be hosting Tier 1 women’s cricket. Which is where Scarborough comes in. For rather than stage four-day games in huge stadiums where spectators rattle around in stands built to accommodate thousands for Tests or T20 matches, some officials are looking to play matches on their outgrounds, where the crowds are larger and the players relish the spectators’ closeness and their appreciation of skill.
Yorkshire might be blazing something of a trail here. Strong rumours suggest that in addition to playing two County Championship matches at Scarborough next year, the county will also be taking a game to York, a venue they use for One-Day Cup games but which last hosted a first-class game in 2019. And the glowing tribute to outgrounds by Yorkshire’s chairman, Colin Graves, suggests any decision to take a game to Clifton Park will stem from desire rather than compulsion.
“We are incredibly lucky in Yorkshire to have brilliant outgrounds across the county that we can utilise for first XI, second XI and pathway fixtures across our men’s and women’s teams,” Graves said.
“Given the size of the county and the spread of its cricket-loving population, it’s crucial that we are able to take cricket out into our communities. It’s clear from the attendances and feedback we get at Scarborough and York that our members and supporters love watching cricket at each of them.
“The unique atmospheres and experiences at our outgrounds are another factor in why cricket is so special in Yorkshire and we are looking forward to working with each venue in the coming years to enhance the experience and attract more supporters.”
Let’s pause for a moment. If Yorkshire’s plan to play at York goes ahead, it will mean that three of their seven first-class games will be played on outgrounds. And what is equally intriguing is that the fondness for outground cricket seems to be shared across the Pennines.
Earlier this summer, Lancashire played County Championship matches at Southport and Blackpool, and there is even talk of taking a game back to Liverpool, although it is uncertain in what format.
And even when Lancashire’s second ground at Farington is in operation in 2026 at the earliest, the county has said their commitment to their outgrounds will remain. Such an approach was neatly summed up by the county’s chief executive, Daniel Gidney, when he was sitting in the press tent at Blackpool and watching a large crowd enjoy Lancashire take on Durham in one of the best matches of the season. “This is the future of county cricket,” he said.
It is very doubtful whether all his colleagues would agree with Gidney. Surrey already get good crowds at the Oval and most spectators enjoy the unique atmosphere at Trent Bridge when Nottinghamshire are playing. Some counties play only one-day games on what are essentially club or school wickets and a few coaches regard visiting an outground as another away match, where they have less control over the pitches and the dressing rooms are smaller.
Indeed, a questionnaire issued to the 18 first-class counties regarding their approach to outground cricket would probably elicit 18 different responses and quite a few would mention cash. None of them would like to endure what Worcestershire experienced earlier this season when the winter floods at New Road forced them to take their first two matches to Kidderminster, an otherwise excellent venue. But this was late April: the county lost money and it was bloody cold.
Yet this has still been a lovely summer for devotees of outground cricket. Ben Stokes played his first game of the season at Blackpool, James Anderson prepared for his final Test by taking six wickets in six overs at Southport, Glamorgan made 592 to tie their match against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham and Jonny Bairstow is currently attempting to prove that he is still a cricketer of international pedigree at Scarborough.
Yorkshire and Lancashire’s willingness to play at outgrounds might not cause many counties to change their views on where they should play their matches. But it might prompt officials with agile minds to reconsider their approach.