PLAY has been abandoned for the second day running in Worcestershire's opening County Championship match against Sussex at New Road.

New Road secretary Mike Vockins has supported umpires David Shepherd and John Hampshire for taking a "realistic view" in calling play off as early as 10am.

Vockins said: "The ground hasn't dried as we would have hoped overnight. We need blazing sunshine but the forecast is for more showers."

The County have brought in an industrial vacuum cleaner to take surface water off the recently re-laid turf alongside the square.

It is the second year in a row that the County have lost the first two days of the season at New Road.