NO play was possible before lunch in Worcestershire's weather-wrecked County Championship Division Two match against Sussex at New Road today.

The ground was still sodden and the outlook remained as gloomy as the last two days which have both been washed out.

It was a similar story to last season when the County's opening Championship game with Glamorgan at New Road was devastated by wet weather.

Just 53 overs were bowled when play was possible only on the third day. New Road is currently paying the price for having taken its average April rainfall in the space of four days.

An industrial vacuum cleaner is being used in a non-stop mopping up operation and County officials are hoping for better fortunes in the coming few days.

On Sunday they open their National League Division Two fixtures with a home clash against Sussex, while Northamptonshire are the visitors to New Road on Monday in the Benson and Hedges Cup.