W Gray: Edgbaston pitches to be dug up (27 May 1998)

27 May 1998

Edgbaston pitches to be dug up

By William Gray

WARWICKSHIRE are to dig up four pitches after further criticism of playing surfaces at Edgbaston. Two of the strips scheduled for relaying at the end of the season were used in the championship and AXA League defeats by Nottinghamshire over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Players and umpires were reported to be unhappy with the conditions and both pitches received low marks for bounce. Warwickshire have finished 17th out of 18 in the first-class pitches table for three years but are hopeful that watering will produce a good surface for next week's first Test against South Africa.

Former Worcestershire paceman Paul Thomas has been called up by the Minor Counties to play the South Africans at Stone, in Staffordshire, tomorrow. Thomas, who rejoined Shropshire after three years at New Road, replaces Cumberland's David Pennett.

Nottinghamshire's former England Under-19 opener Mathew Dowman received his county cap yesterday.

Today's cricket:

11am start

BENSON AND HEDGES CUP - Qtr-finals

Leicester: Leics v Kent.
Lord's: Middlesex v Essex.
Oval: Surrey v Lancs.
Headingley: Yorks v Durham.

TOUR MATCH (1 day).- Stone: Minor Counties v S Africans.

2ND XI CHAMPIONSHIP.- 2nd day of 4: Kidderminster: Worcs v Gloucs. 2nd day of 3: Marske: Yorks v Glamorgan. 1st day of 3: Abbotsholme School: Derbys v Warwicks. Maidstone: Kent v Surrey. Campbell Park: Northants v Hants.

MINOR COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP.- Marlow (2nd day of 2): Bucks v Suffolk.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)