Rose Bowl to get lights

Hampshire has been granted permission to install floodlights at the Rose Bowl, after a request they made at the end of last season to the East Leigh Council was approved. As per tentative plans, six floodlights should be in place by the start of the 2006 season.

Hampshire County Cricket Club (Hampshire CCC) wants to convert the Rose Bowl into a permanent ODI venue for England, so the installation of the lights would make it the only big enough venue, with lights, for ODIs.

The Rose Bowl has hosted seven ODIs thus far since the first one in 2003, including five group stage matches from last year’s ICC Champion’s Trophy. It will also host the forthcoming international Twenty20 match between England and Australia, on 13th June.