Somerset v Gloucestershire, T20 Blast game delayed as the visitors arrive late at the venue

Cricket matches are usually delayed due to overnight rain or rain just before the start time, fog and many other weather related issues but the start of the NatWest T20 Blast game between Gloucestershire and Somerset was delayed as the players couldn’t reach the venue on time. There are instances of one or two players of a team reaching the venue after the game gets underway which has happened even in a few International matches, mostly in case a last minute replacement is announced but in this case, the whole Somerset team failed to reach the venue of the game, Bristol’s County Ground before scheduled time.

The game was scheduled to start on 6:30 PM local time but the visiting team’s bus just managed to reach the venue around the scheduled time. Somerset, who left their home town Taunton around 2 PM local time, with over 4 hours for the game to start and were expected to reach the venue in 45 minutes which is the usual travel time on the M5 motorway. But an accident on the M5 forced the Somerset team bus to divert to the A38 road.

The accident was due to a Lorry crash in the Weston-Super-Mare on the M5 expressway. Since the A38 way was the option all the motorists opted on that route their journey extended to nearly four and half hours. The expected delay was conveyed to the match officials and the start time of the game was moved to 7 PM local time. However, when the visitors finally reached their destination, the toss was taken at 6:45 PM and the match got underway on 7:15 PM Bristol time without any reduction in overs.

Here’s the Somerset’s Twitter timeline during their journey to the Bristol:

Update at 5:17 PM local time:

.@Gloscricket might be a bit late lads.. ?????????#GLOvSOM pic.twitter.com/S9U9vclqhv

— Somerset Cricket ? (@SomersetCCC) August 4, 2017

We went with A38, left before 2pm and are still 14 miles away

??????#GLOvSOM https://t.co/rCCNROlH3d

— Somerset Cricket ? (@SomersetCCC) August 4, 2017

Update at 5:28 PM local time:

UPDATE: We are still 10 miles away, and the scheduled start time is now 7pm #GLOvSOM pic.twitter.com/PrVcKhF7WS

— Somerset Cricket ? (@SomersetCCC) August 4, 2017

Update at 5:44 PM local time:

4.5 miles away @Gloscricket ????#GLOvSOM pic.twitter.com/KbspwBk1Zc

— Somerset Cricket ? (@SomersetCCC) August 4, 2017

Update at 5:56 PM local time:

UPDATE: We are currently at Bristol Temple Meads #GLOvSOM pic.twitter.com/z5vjwuBot4

— Somerset Cricket ? (@SomersetCCC) August 4, 2017

Update at 6:21 PM local time:

Getting plenty of stick from the @Gloscricket supporters as we approach the ground!#GLOvSOM pic.twitter.com/F1IiswDdPM

— Somerset Cricket ? (@SomersetCCC) August 4, 2017

Update at 6:28 PM local time:

Live from Bristol! #GLOvSOM https://t.co/ugDYoCCu9C

— Somerset Cricket ? (@SomersetCCC) August 4, 2017