Ottis Gibson reflects on Gloucestershire washout: "To call the game off is disappointing"

Yorkshire's clash with Gloucestershire in Bristol was abandoned on day three without a ball being bowled

Yorkshire head coach Ottis Gibson admitted the pitch in Bristol had deteriorated since Thursday as the County Championship Division Two clash between Gloucestershire and Yorkshire was abandoned on day three without a ball being bowled.

More heavy rain fell overnight, adding to already saturated ground, leading the umpires to conclude that play would be not possible on either days three or four.

Although Gibson is disappointed with the decision, he understands the weather has not been on their side in the build-up to, and during, the game.

He said: "On Wednesday, it looked like we might struggle for a couple of days. I thought today [Saturday] and tomorrow, we might get some cricket. But the rain yesterday didn't help the groundsman at all.

"There's been a lot of weather down here, even before we got here, and we knew that.

^{Ottis Gibson doesn't believe he's ever been involved in a match where the whole game has been washed out [Nathan Stirk/Getty Images]}

"But especially today when the sun's out and it's cricket weather, to call the game off is very disappointing."

Gibson made over 400 professional appearances in a career spanning 17 years, but does not think he has ever been involved in a match where the whole game has been washed out.

He cited the sodden outfield, as well as an issue where the bowlers would have set off from at the Ashley Down Road End as the main reasons behind the postponement.

However, he was able to form a positive outlook: "We have a lot more cricket to play, and whilst we're disappointed with this, we'll just look forward to what's to come rather than dwelling too much on this."

William Porterfield, assistant batting and fielding coach at Gloucestershire, paid tribute to the efforts of the ground staff, who have been under the pump for several weeks due to heavy rain throughout March.

He said: "The groundstaff have had to work tirelessly for the last six weeks, but the water tables are just so high, they can't take it away as fast as they need to."

Yorkshire and Gloucestershire earned eight points apiece from the washed out fixture and will now turn their attention to next week's matches. Gloucestershire will make the trip up the M5 as they face Worcestershire at New Road while Yorkshire on the road once again, taking on Sussex at Hove.