Lord's inspires drainage solution for counties

The remarkable drainage system at Lord's, which passed with flying colours in a decidedly wet 2007, is the inspiration behind the ECB's new drainage funding plan which other counties will be able to apply for to improve their own sub-standard systems.

Giles Clarke and David Collier, the chairman and chief executive of the ECB, come from a background of administrative experience at smaller counties that have been less well protected from the elements than Test match grounds and are to allocate about £500,000 for every club that has not yet installed adequate drainage. This work would be undertaken by specialist companies under its auspices and, not surprisingly, the idea found favour with every county chairman at their meeting last week.

The value of MCC's investment was seen to good effect when play recommenced remarkably quickly during the Lord's Test against India last year after a downpour of the kind that in the past would have resulted in an abandonment for the day. Clarke and Collier are keen that all counties properly protect their squares and bowlers' run-ups in future so as to ensure spectators have value for their money.

Read Ivo Tennant's piece at The Times.