ECB order Worcestershire replay

The England and Wales Cricket Board have ordered Worcestershire's LV County Championship match with Kent at New Road - abandoned without a ball being bowled on Tuesday - to be restaged in three weeks' time.

The Pears had taken the decision to stage the game at their headquarters, despite the recent severe flooding of the ground, rather than at Kidderminster.

But the outfield did not dry out sufficiently and umpires Richard Kettleborough and Martin Bodenham called the entire game off after an hour of the third day after consulting with the ECB.

Kent pressed the ECB to reschedule the match - and their wishes have been granted by the board.

The match will be staged from July 30 to August 3 - with a day's break while Worcestershire travel to Chelmsford to play Essex in a floodlit Pro40 game on August 2.

In addition the ECB have allowed Worcestershire to switch this Friday's televised floodlit Pro40 clash with Hampshire to Derby rather than New Road because of risks of that match also being placed in jeopardy by the state of the ground.

Worcestershire are also to receive financial assistance of £75,000 from the ECB to help with restoration work at New Road after floods left the ground under four metres of water.