MAKING THE GRADE: Spectators could be watching county cricket next year at Dorchester Rec
DORSET team manager Sean Walbridge has admitted county cricket could return to Dorchester as early as next year if Recreation Ground facilities meet the required standard.
But Walbridge has also made it clear that if the Weymouth Avenue wicket doesn't "come up to scratch" it will take longer for the county ground to host Minor Counties cricket again.
Before this season, Bournemouth's Dean Park had staged most of Dorset's one-day and two or three-day championship games for about the past decade.
However, Dorset's two home MCCA Trophy group matches against Lincolnshire and Buckinghamshire will take place at Sherborne School this year because of Dean Park's unavailability.
Now Dorchester is well on course to welcome the county team back after a £18,000 project to build a scorers' box was approved by council planners earlier this week.
The box will be the final piece of the jigsaw in a ground redevelopment scheme that began in 2003.
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Walbridge, whose side complete their pre-season friendlies against Somerset 2nds at North Perrott tomorrow (11am), said: "We're definitely looking at Dorchester now they will have the score box facility.
"We'll have a look at the wicket when we have a Dorset Development XI game there this season.
"If the wicket plays well this year, maybe there is a possibility of playing a one-day game there next year.
"It would be good news for the county town and county team because we always used to play at Dorchester up until 10 to 12 years ago. It would be great to play there again."
Walbridge added: "With Bournemouth University in the top national league this year it means Dean Park is unavailable to us in May because the students will be playing there.
"That's why we have gone back to Sherborne School. We've always looked at playing some games back in the west, and we've probably been forced back a little bit earlier than expected because of Dean Park's unavailability for the first month of this season.
"But Sherborne School is a lovely place to play cricket.
"Again, we used to play there in the 1980s and 90s, and it's good to get one-day games back in the west.
"If we can have one at Sherborne next year and one at Dorchester it would be great.
"I do stress the wicket and facilities at Dorchester do have to come up to scratch though."
Dean Park, one of Hampshire's former grounds, has become very much headquarters of Dorset cricket since they moved there in the mid-90s.
Walbridge, whose side stage all three home championship matches in Bournemouth this season, said: "We would probably keep the championship games at Dean Park."
Dorset: (v Somerset 2nds, from) Treagus, Taylor, C Park, Lawes, Cowley, Selwood, N Park, Arshad, T Hicks, Metcalfe, Belt, Banham, Waller.
Dorset A: (v Bournemouth University at Dean Park tomorrow at 12.30pm, from) Esson, J Park, G Hicks, Moxom, Kennedy, Tweddle, Stickland, Denham, Malik, Ridley, Wilson, Payne.
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