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Worcestershire’s home pitch at New Road may be permanently abandoned if it flooded seven times in the winter of 2023–2024. The club’s chief executive, Ashley Giles, is actively considering the club’s alternatives. They will play their first two home games of the County Championship season in the neighbouring town of Kidderminster.
With Worcester Cathedral as a backdrop, New Road is one of the most famous cricket grounds in England; yet, it is situated on a flood plain that releases sediment into the River Severn. Giles, who became chief executive last year, stated that he is concerned that any additional problems may have an impact on their T20 Blast season because the flooding situation is becoming worse.
“I don’t think we can carry on like this,” Giles told BBC Hereford and Worcester. “It’s costing us a lot of money. We’re going to lose virtually two months of a six-month season. The ground is here to stage cricket, to be a venue for entertainment and hospitality. But conditions are seemingly getting worse.
“I’m not sure how much longer this will continue if we keep having to put up with this. As chief executive here, I have to consider all options – and one of those options has to be looking if we move, where do we move, and how do we move? We have a good relationship with both the local councils, city and county.
“And would we be building a version of New Road somewhere else? Or could we look at outside investment and build something that could have world-class facilities. That would take a lot of investment. But sport – and cricket – is interesting to investors right now, so maybe the timing is right to look at those sorts of things.”
Giles is concerned that floods could spoil Worcestershire’s Blast season, as their first home game is set for May 31. The team does not expect to play at New Road until May 24, when they visit Nottinghamshire in the County Championship.
“The weather over the next couple of weeks is important, but we are still sticking to the plan of a May 24 return,” he said. “But any extension of the timeline on a return to New Road would be pretty devastating. We’ve now suffered seven full floods this winter at New Road, the last of them over the Easter weekend, which is very late.
“The water has now receded and we’re yet to assess quite how much damage has been done but first impressions are positive. It seems that the work done on the square has been retained and there is still good grass. But, if we push back any further we get into the T20 [Blast].