After yesterday's special meeting of the county's general committee it was announced: ``We have agreed that in future all first-class fixtures will be concentrated at the County Ground in Derby. ``This decision was based entirely on the necessity to focus all efforts on developing the County Ground. With the amount of first-class cricket likely to be reduced in future, it is vital on commercial grounds to take this step.''
The decision was made virtually inevitable by the recent purchase of the grandstand area at the County Ground from Wolverhampton Breweries for UKP 370,000 and by poor attendances for the cricket festival at Queen's Park earlier this season.
11am start
BRITANNIC ASSURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP (1st day of 4)
Colwyn Bay: Glamorgan v Lancs.
Cheltenham: Gloucs v Surrey.
Portsmouth: Hants v Notts.
Lord's: Middx v Yorks.
Northampton: Northants v Derbys (12).
Taunton: Somerset v Durham.
2ND XI CHAMPIONSHIP (1st day of 3)
Riverside: Durham v Derbys.
Usk: Glamorgan v Warwicks.
Maidstone: Kent v Northants.
Hinckley Town: Leics v Worcs.
Hastings: Sussex v Middx.
AON Trophy (1 day)
Bristol: Gloucs v Hants.
MINOR COUNTIES
Cambridge (Fenner's): Cambs v Bucks (Grade rules).
Lakenham: Norfolk v Herts.