Worcestershire to play Sussex at Edgbaston

As floods continue to wreak havoc in the Midlands, another county has rallied to help Worcestershire restage one of their matches.

Warwickshire have said that Edgbaston can be used for the Pro40 match with Sussex on Sunday - and their members will be allowed to watch the game for free. The match will start at 1.45pm.

The move follows Derbyshire's offer of using the County Ground the other week - although the match was washed out.

The ECB have also announced a change to the rules which govern a switch of venue in the event of poor weather. They have relaxed the requirement that the match must still be played in the home team's county, although still say it should be in the same region if possible.

During the first batch of floods three weeks ago, Worcestershire wanted to play a Twenty20 match at Edgbaston but the ECB turned down the request before later moving their Pro40 match against Hampshire to Derby.

The new rule 40 states: "The venue should preferably be within the county or a recognised venue used by the County in question. If no such venue is available then a neutral venue preferably within the region of the originally scheduled match may be considered. In no circumstances will it be permissible for the match to be re-scheduled at a venue normally or occasionally used as a home venue by the scheduled away county."

Worcestershire's chief executive, Mark Newton, said: "We would like to thank Edgbaston for agreeing to stage this game and the ECB for allowing us to switch to a venue outside the county.

"Whilst we realise that most counties are suffering badly from the extreme weather conditions, we are suffering more than most and all we want to do is play some cricket. I think everybody is desperate just to watch a normal game of cricket!"

The club has announced that all Worcestershire and Warwickshire members will gain admission to the game upon production of their membership cards. In addition any person still in possession of unused tickets from previously abandoned games at New Road will be able to use them at this game.

Public admission on the day will be £15 for adults and £5 for 16 and under.