Leatherdale confident floods won't delay New Road start (From Worcester News)

Leatherdale confident floods won't delay Worcestershire's New Road start

9:10am Thursday 14th February 2013 in Sport By Tom Guest, @tomguestWN #WENsport

WORCESTERSHIRE are confident they will not have to switch early season fixtures away from New Road despite the ground having been flooded several times during the past two months.

The Royals have so far splashed out around £20,000 on various clean-up operations this winter only for the flood waters to return on four occasions.

Chief executive David Leatherdale admits the outfield and cricket square are currently in a muddy condition but is optimistic it will have recovered in time for the start of the 2013 campaign.

Matches had to be moved away from New Road during the 2007, 2008 and 2012 seasons due to flooding.

Former Worcestershire all-rounder Leatherdale said: “We have had three to four main floods which have covered the ground for about four of the last eight to nine weeks.

“It means the groundstaff have not been able to do a great deal. The outfield and square are currently a bit muddy and there is a lot of silt.

“The ground has been cleaned up three or four times, at a cost of about £20,000, and every time we have done this, the floods have come back.

“Pre-season training is due to start on March 11 and we have made contingency plans in terms of practising elsewhere.

“But we are confident it will not affect the early season fixtures. We are not panicking. We have had flooding in early April before and still played. You get used to it.

“There is some rain due today but the long range forecast is very good.”