Honest answers needed over Headingley test cricket snub

The absence of Headingley from the men’s Test cricket calendar until 2029 is deeply disappointing on a number of levels.

There is the obvious economic impact for both the club and the region, especially as the test matches in question are against Australia and India.

Then there is the sporting disappointment. Cricket is a religion to many people in this region. If summer weekends and evenings are not spent playing the sport, then a lot will spend their time spectating. Top level international fixtures generate a genuine excitement with conversation amongst fans turning to whether they’d managed to obtain tickets to the match or not.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) should take on board the comments of Colin Graves, chairman of Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Graves, who served as chairman of the ECB between 2015 and 2020, believes Lord’s gets too many test matches with two guaranteed every year.

While no one begrudges Lord’s, the spiritual home of cricket, hosting the big fixtures, the game is impoverished when venues like Headingley are overlooked. It is the fans that make cricket what it is. When the popularity of test cricket is on the wane in other parts of the world, it would be remiss to take supporters for granted in this country.

Stands such as the Western Terrace at Headingley and the Hollies at Edgbaston provide an energy that players on the field feed off. This has been reflected in England’s form.

Honest answers are needed as to why Headingley has missed out on two of the biggest tests in the coming years.