KP return set for Kidderminster

By Paul Bolton
Kevin Pietersen will swap the glamour of the Indian Premier League for the more prosaic surroundings of Birmingham League club Kidderminster when he makes his seasonal debut for Surrey next week.

Pietersen’s only county appearance before the first Test against the West Indies at Lord’s is against Worcestershire but the match has been switched to Kidderminster because of flooding at Worcester.

The New Road outfield has been underwater for three days and although levels in the rivers Severn and Teme have started to drop, further heavy rain is forecast for early next week.

Worcestershire took the decision to move Monday’s CB40 match against Holland to Kidderminster earlier this week and have now switched the Surrey match to the outground which has been on standby to host first-class cricket at short notice since the severe summer flooding in Worcester five years ago.

“The flood levels at New Road, which peaked on Wednesday, are now starting to subside, and the standing water on the outfield is now receding, although slowly,” said Worcestershire chief executive David Leatherdale.


“With further rain forecast for early next week in order to guarantee the best possible chance of playing the 4 day match against Surrey, the match will also be played at Kidderminster along with our CB40 one day game against the Netherlands on Monday.”

Date: 04/05/2012 20:11:57 by MBaldwin
In: Worcestershire | Today |