Kent anger as replay overturned

Kent have reacted angrily after the ECB overturned its original decision to replay the abandoned Championship match against Worcestershire. The game was called off without a ball bowled after the first spate of flooding at New Road earlier this month and a second match, against Lancashire last week, was lost to another flood.

A number of counties, including Hampshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire, expressed their anger at the ECB's decision to allow a replay because of "exceptional circumstances". The feeling was that the ECB had set a dangerous precedent and the further recent flooding left it with no real option but to reverse the decision.

Lancashire, Yorkshire, Warwickshire and Durham also rejected a new proposal that Kent should receive nine points from the match and Worcestershire four. "Everyone connected with Kent cricket is extremely disappointed at the way this situation has unfolded and by the eventual outcome," said chairman Carl Openshaw.

"We find it extraordinary that four counties should have decided to overturn ECB's proposal to resolve this matter for what can only be regarded as reasons of self-interest. From the outset, it was recognised that Kent was the totally innocent party and had, as ECB put it, 'been disadvantaged by Worcestershire's decision not to relocate the match to another venue.'

"ECB had, therefore, sought to find an equitable solution, firstly by deciding that the match should be rescheduled [to which a number of counties objected] and subsequently by proposing that Kent should be awarded five additional points in compensation.

"The Kent players, who sat through predominantly fine weather at Worcester with no prospect of play and who have seen recent matches relocated in similar circumstances, feel cheated and the members and supporters of Kent have been badly let down."

He added that Kent are considering their legal rights over the situation.