English cricket's new Lancashire arena will 'grow the game'

Lancashire County Cricket Club opened their new second ground, AO Farington in South Ribble, which hosted its first match on Tuesday when Lancashire beat Kent in the Metro Bank One Day Cup. The venue is the first new ground to host first-class cricket in England since Hampshire opened the Rose Bowl in 2001, making it the first such opening in 25 years. The club's director of cricket performance, Mark Chilton, said the ground is modelled on Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand, and will help grow the game across the region.