Sussex open to swapping venues for Lancashire opener due to damaged Hove outfield

Crane fly larvae have fed on the grass which could see Emirates Old Trafford host the first County Championship match of the campaign

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Sussex and Lancashire's County Championship opener could be moved to Emirates Old Trafford due to a damaged outfield at Hove.

The larvae of European crane flies have hatched across the ground and fed on the grass, according to ESPNCricinfo.

Though the square is unaffected the club could seek extra time to prepare for the new campaign.

Lancashire are due at Hove for the first competitive match of the season on April 8-11.

But plans are afoot to swap the home and away fixtures, with the return game during the fourth round of matches scheduled for April 29-May 2

With both games due to be played behind closed doors neither set of supporters or team would be majorly disadvantaged by the switch.

Yorkshire are the first intended visitors to Hove on April 22-25, by which time the club hopes to have reached a solution.

However, it remains to be seen whether the home pre-season friendlies against Surrey (March 29-30) and Hampshire (April 1-2) will go ahead at the County Ground.

"We're making good progress on getting the outfield ready for the start of the season and remain hopeful of hosting Lancashire at The 1st Central County Ground as planned," a Sussex spokesperson told ESPNCricinfo. 

"We will assess the conditions at the end of next week and the two clubs will then make a decision on where the fixture will be played.

"Because both the LV= Insurance County Championship fixtures between Sussex and Lancashire will be played behind closed doors, if the home and away matches are switched, spectators would not be affected. 

"Our thanks go to Lancashire for their understanding and cooperation in this matter."

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