Cricket

Worcestershire's eagerly anticipated return to their home ground, Visit Worcestershire New Road, for the Vitality County Championship match against Nottinghamshire ended in disappointment as the first day was washed out due to a persistent damp patch on the bowlers' run-up at the New Road End.Despite the club's efforts to switch their opening two home games to Kidderminster due to eight floods that engulfed the ground during the winter, the persistent rain on Wednesday left a section of the ground saturated.Groundstaff worked tirelessly to dry out the affected area, even digging out blocks of turf and cooking them on a diesel heater in the groundsman's shed. However, the umpires, Nigel Llong and Surendiran Shanmugam, decided at 1.30pm to abandon play for the day, citing the outfield as "way too wet."The washout has raised concerns about the future of New Road as a suitable venue for cricket. Ashley Giles, Worcestershire's chief executive, had previously admitted that the club was exploring the possibility of a permanent move to a new home."I don't think we can carry on like this," Giles told BBC Hereford and Worcester in April. "It's costing us a lot of money. The ground is here to stage cricket, to be a venue for entertainment and hospitality. But conditions are seemingly getting worse."The club's financial situation is also a factor, with the constant flooding and the need for repairs putting a strain on resources. The washout has further deepened the uncertainty surrounding New Road's future, leaving the club and its supporters facing an uncertain future.

Worcestershire County Cricket Club is facing an uncertain future at its historic New Road ground due to persistent flooding. The club has confirmed that it will explore a permanent move away from the venue in the coming months to ensure its long-term viability.New Road has been Worcestershire's home since 1899, but its location on a floodplain has made it vulnerable to flooding. The ground has been inundated seven times during the 2023-24 winter, forcing the club to relocate its first two County Championship matches to Kidderminster.In 2014, Worcestershire invested between £7 million and £8 million in flood-resistant measures, but these have proven insufficient to prevent further flooding. The club now faces the prospect of losing two months of its six-month season due to the ongoing issues.Chief executive Ashley Giles has warned that any further delays in hosting cricket at New Road would be "devastating" for the club. He has floated the idea of moving to a new home, stating that "we can't carry on like this."The club's board has now confirmed that it is actively exploring all options, including a move from New Road. The aim is to secure the long-term future of Worcestershire County Cricket Club and ensure its financial stability.The potential move away from New Road is a significant development for Worcestershire. The ground has been a cornerstone of the club's identity for over a century, but the increasing frequency and severity of flooding have made it unsustainable.The club will continue to host cricket at New Road for the remainder of the 2023 season, but further bad weather could affect its T20 Blast campaign. The club is also scheduled to host a women's ODI between England Women and New Zealand on June 30.The decision on whether to move from New Road will be a difficult one for Worcestershire, but it is clear that the club must take action to secure its future. The club's board will now work to explore all options and present a plan to its members and stakeholders in the coming months.