Essex County Cricket Club Looking To Host T20 Cricket Matches At Olympic Stadium In '18

Essex County Cricket Club CEO Derek Bowden said that the club hopes "to host T20 cricket matches in the Olympic Stadium" in '18, according to the BBC. Essex has been in talks "for a number of years regarding the stadium," home of EPL club West Ham, from August. Bowden: "The objective is to play cricket there in 2018, probably play two or three home T20 games in a two-week period. There may also be an England women's or even men's game or some invitational games as well as recreational cricket." Essex "first revealed a desire to play cricket at the Olympic Park" back in '10 and in March '12 launched a failed bid to become a tenant of the stadium. Bowden had previously said that a deal had been agreed "in principle" for a two-week festival in the stadium from '16, "but is hopeful" about a move in '18, with a "practice" game possible in '17. He said, "The next stage for us is for the groundstaff to review the practicalities of a drop in square in a semi-artificial pitch which we know can be done" (BBC, 7/11).