WORCESTERSHIRE groundsman Roy McLaren is optimistic that the County's New Road ground will be ready for the opening home match with Sussex on Wednesday.

McLaren remains confident despite a "nightmare" battle against the elements.

He admits frequent floods from the adjacent River Severn have put work far behind schedule and been "soul destroying."

Only last Thursday part of the outfield on the pavilion side of the ground had to be returfed because the thickness of the silt meant any further water was just lying on the surface.

There has been little opportunity for pre-season rolling but McLaren has still managed to prepare a wicket in time.

McLaren said: "It's been the worst winter since I first became a groundsman some 45 years ago. I can never remember a period like it before. It has just been solid rain for day after day.

"There have been more than 100 days this winter when conditions have been so bad you've not even been able to walk on to the ground.

"The main problem is that for 45 days there were floods at a minimum of two feet deep and that killed off all the grass planted in September.

"We've had to re-seed four times, the last time in February, whereas usually the seed planted in September would grow until the normal flooding."