Dominic Leech suffers nasty knee blow as play in Yorkshire v Lancashire Roses match is abandoned

The 20-year-old collides with some exposed concrete on day three of the LV=Insurance County Championship match at Headingley, leading to play being called off for the day

County Championship Essentials: Yorkshire v Lancashire

Yorkshire youngster Dominic Leech has suffered a nasty knee injury after colliding some exposed concrete leading to the abandonment of play on day three of the LV=Insurance County Championship match against Lancashire at Headingley.

The 20-year-old slipped while attempting to prevent a Luke Wells boundary as he ran in towards deep mid-wicket and went knee first into the foundations of the Western Terrace.

He received treatment for up to 15 minutes from medical teams of both sides. An early tea was called but play did not resume on time.

Following further inspections by umpires Ian Gould and Nigel Llong, after hwihc they adjudged that parts of the outfield were unfit and unsafe for play, proceedings were abandoned for the day at 4:25pm with just 23.2 overs bowled.

A club statement on the scoreboard read: "Water has risen to the surface in key areas where there has been the most activity including the bowlers run-ups."

They later added: "Conditions worsened as the afternoon went on with water rising to the surface in some of the key playing areas where the most activity had taken place, including on the bowler’s run ups. This was primarily at the Emerald Stand of the ground.

"Analysis of the outfield at that end has previously taken place and has identified issues with a layer of thatch that can cause a build-up of water on the surface following heavy rainfall."

^{Credit: Yorkshire CCC/YouTube}

Yorkshire coach Andrew Gale said of the possible injury to Leach, according to the ECB Reporters Network: “Our physio (Kunwar Bansil) has taken Dom to hospital in his car. The ambulance said they would take two hours. That’s all we know really.

“Whether it’s the slip that’s caused it and it’s something functional with the knee or whether hitting the concrete is what’s caused it, I don’t know. 

“In many ways, I hope it’s a break rather than a tear in the ligament or something.

“You have to feel for the lad. It’s the first game he’s played in the first team. He’s a tough cookie is Dom, and he was in a lot of pain. It was sad to see. Hopefully, he’ll be ok.”

On the decision to call a halt to play, Gale sympathised with the dilemma facing umpires Gould and Llong.

“With with their experience, they probably didn’t want a situation where someone like a Jimmy Anderson runs in and rolls his ankle," he explained.

"They didn’t think it was fit for play. Fair play to Lancashire because they’re bossing the game and they seemed ok about it."

Glen Chapple, the Lancashire head coach, added: “We had a lot of rain yesterday. We got here this morning and the ground was still wet. 

“The best I can give you is that maybe the heat has brought more moisture up and it’s gone from being just playable to not playable.

“It’s disappointing for the players and supporters, but unfortunately the ground’s not fit at the moment. 

“The umpires are doing their job, and it’s their call to make. None of us have been down the end that’s causing the problem. I fully trust the umpires to make the right call.

“Everybody has a job to do here, and we have to respect the umpires’ call. I’m not an expert on Headingley.

“The players and supporters will be very disappointed, but the main thing from all this is that you don’t want to see someone injured badly. We all hope Dom recovers quickly.”

The whole of day two of the Roses match was lost to rain and there was a delay of an hour to the start of day three following a morning inspection of the outfield.

Visitors Lancashire are currently 411 for 2 in their first innings, with Luke Wells unbeaten on 97 heading into the final day of the match.

Ahead of this game, both sides had already secured a two top place in Group Three and therefore passage to the championship phase.

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