Warwickshire commit to Edgbaston

Warwickshire have dismissed newspaper reports that they are planning to move away from Edgbaston to a new purpose-built stadium in Birmingham.

The reason for Warwickshire considering a move is thought to be the repeated refusal of the city authorities to allow them to erect floodlights, with the opposition of local residents the main reason.

Keith Cook, the county's operation manager, told the BBC that the future was at Edgbaston. "Subject to being able to achieve the right funding, we will be developing this ground," he said, although he refused to rule out a move if circumstances changed.

And Roger Draper, chief executive, said that as with football, cricket should consider moving away from traditional venues to more modern grounds. "The problem is we are the only country in the world where not too many day/night matches can be staged," Draper told The Daily Telegraph. "But such matches are the norm in the rest of the world. At present we have some lovely grounds but they are impossible to modernise. Permanent lights cannot be installed and it is not very satisfactory."

In 2004 Edgbaston will host the second Test between England and West Indies, first round games in the Champions Trophy and the finals day in the Twenty20 Cup.