WORCESTERSHIRE are hoping to be able to make a decsion later today on whether next week’s LV= County Championship Division One match with Surrey can go ahead at New Road.

A large portion of the outfield, as well as three strips on the the square, are still under water, but several wickets escaped the flooding and the side of the ground nearest the river is in good condition, while the river level has peaked and is now beginning to recede.

Monday’s CB40 pipe-opener with the Netherlands has already been switched to Kidderminster and a second wicket has also been prepared at Chester Road should it be required for the Surrey match that gets under way on Wednesday.

County chief executive David Leatherdale said: “About a third of the square has been under water as well as all of the outfield from by the marquee across to by the executive suites.

“However, we have still got a wicket covered which we can use for the Surrey game if the flood water is off the ground in time for it to dry out. The river has already dropped by a few feet and most places are dropping quite considerably now.

“We are just waiting to see if the river will have dropped enough by this afternoon. It looks like quite clean drain water is on the ground, rather than the murky river water, so hopefully it shouldn’t be too difficult to clean up.”

Meanwhile, Leatherdale confirmed director of cricket Steve Rhodes has spoken to the agent of Pakistani left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir about the possibility of him joining Worcestershire for their Friends Provident t20 campaign.

Leatherdale added: “He is possibly going to be part of the Pakistan squad going on the tour of Sri Lanka, but the feeling is he might only be involved in the one-dayers at the start of the tour, so could potentially be available for the Twenty20.”

Worcestershire were left frustrated after the rain ruled out any play on the opening day of their LV= County Championship match with Middlesex at Lord’s.