Worcestershire Move To Kidderminster

New Road - flooded again.

Worcestershire have switched their remaining home matches this season to Kidderminster after serious flooding at New Road.

The final NatWest Pro40 and LV County Championship games - both against Middlesex - will now be played at Chester Road.

Worcestershire had been due to play Middlesex Crusaders in the Pro40 on Sunday and a four-day Championship game, starting on September 17, at their headquarters.

Worcestershire chief executive, Mark Newton, said: "Following Graeme Hick's announcement about his retirement from county cricket at the end of the season, interest about these two fixtures has been immense.

"Cricket followers throughout the country want to see his last few innings at New Road but the irony is that he started his cricket in England at Kidderminster.

"We hope that our members and supporters will make every effort to come to the cricket and give Graeme the send-off he deserves as the team look to finish off the season as Division Two champions."

Worcestershire were forced to use the Kidderminster venue last season after the River Severn burst its banks.

The midlands county lost more than £1million during the summer of 2007 as no matches could be played at New Road after June 21.