Yorkshire's final day a surprise wash-out

Although the weather was sunny and warm, water had seeped on to the pitch at the Kirkstall Lane end of the ground following torrential rain which wiped out the third day’s play.

The early abandonment surprised those fans who had arrived anticipating a full day’s play.

Captains Darren Gough and Shane Warne had no hesitation in shaking hands after going out to the middle to assess the situation.

Gough commented: “Conditions were quite horrendous and head groundsman Andy Fogarty said that it would not be possible to make a start before 4.30-5pm.

“To sit around until that time would have been no good to anyone and there would have been no possibility of a result or any chance of either side moving up or down the table. But it is still a very disappointing way to end the season, particularly on such a fine day.”

Gough said that overall he was very pleased with how Yorkshire had played on his return from Essex to lead them this season: “It was good to be able to go into the last Championship match still with a chance of winning the title after topping the table for much of the summer.”

Gough said he now intended to rest his sore left shin for a few weeks before making a final decision over whether to continue playing and leading Yorkshire for one more season.

He added: “I will wait and see how things go for a while but I have enjoyed myself very much and I am 85% confident of being back next year.”

The abandonment brought Yorkshire their eighth blank day of the Championship season, Hampshire taking eight points out of the match to Yorkshire’s five to leapfrog above them in the final table.

nIn Division Two, Northamptonshire batted to a draw against Derbyshire after the home team had declared on 208 for seven in an attempt to produce a result.

That gave the visitors to the County Ground a victory target of 356 and they began badly, losing two wickets in the first three overs. Although Lance Klusener - who hit 86 off 65 balls - and Nicky Boje (53) put them back on track, the teams shook hands on a draw at the start of the last hour with the visitors 229 for four.