BBC boosts Yorkshire coverage

Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan © Empics

BBC Radio will be covering every ball of Yorkshire's LV County Championship and Twenty20 Cup campaigns during 2008, after a successful trial last season.

Supporters have been keen to increase Yorkshire’s coverage with the topic being discussed during club forums and a petition posted on the House of Commons website.

Yorkshire used the last game of the 2007 season against Hampshire as a pilot scheme to see if the BBC's Dave Callaghan could commentate live throughout the day and still provide updates to the local BBC stations, and there was positive feedback from the experiment.

At the present time coverage of the Twenty20 will also be available on medium wave with plans to increase these broadcasts.

BBC cricket correspondent Callaghan said: "Each ball will be covered online home and away. We will also be doing a number of features about the players as well which we can use at intervals and when the weather is inclement.

“We'll provide supporters with bang up-to-date coverage live on the BBC, which is clearly something which has been wanted by supporters for some time."

Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan added: "We are delighted to be teaming up with the BBC. I'm sure their coverage will be terrific and we will give them help and support along the way, providing Dave Callaghan with additional commentators and player interviews when required.

“As a club we are very grateful for the hard work the BBC has put in to making this happen."