WORCESTERSHIRE were due to get their rain-delayed Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy third round tie under way against Cornwall today -- not at St Austell but down the road at Truro.

St Austell's Wheal Eliza ground -- built on a site of a china clay pit -- was deemed unfit for play at 9.30am yesterday morning by umpires Trevor Jesty and Roy Palmer.

When it became clear by mid-afternoon that the situation was likely to remain the same today, the decision was made to decamp 20 miles to Truro. But rain again delayed the start again today.

Yesterday's decision did not go down well with St Austell Cricket Club, who were insistent that the game could have still taken place at Wheal Eliza, following a good drying day yesterday.

But with the risk of the dreaded 'bowl-out' if no play took place, Worcestershire were keen to do whatever would give them the best chance of playing and they were backed by the ECB in their plea for the game to be switched.

Cornwall has two cricketing homes for big-one day fixtures and Truro, situated by the banks of the River Fell in a delightful setting, is considered the superior, having successfully staged last year's C & G Trophy clash with Sussex.

After remaining dry yesterday, despite an early morning shower, play was scheduled to start on time today.

It did not take long for experienced umpires Palmer and Jesty to rule that there would be no play at St Austell yesterday. That was despite a lot of assistance from a small army of local volunteers who were out there from early morning attempting to fork the outfield.

But the surface traditionally does not drain well, has not staged any cricket for a month, and was clearly not going to be ready.

That meant a search for alternative venues, with Exmouth -- where Devon yesterday met Yorkshire -- and even a return up the M5 to New Road considered.

But the square has been left uncovered at Worcester in light of the County currently being in the middle of a strange five-week stretch without a home fixture and they are busy preparing for this weekend's two Jubilee concerts.