NEW Road - the beautiful home of Worcestershire County Cricket Club - has been named as one of the top 10 grounds of your dreams'.

A poll in All Out Cricket magazine placed New Road ninth in their list of world cricket's must-visit destinations.

Although New Road is not a Test match ground, the only other English cricket venue to be included in the selection was Lord's, which is renowned as the home of cricket. The magazine describes the County's headquarters as resolutely rural, with the famous cathedral towering over the cluster of trees at deep mid-wicket', while New Road is also dubbed the county ground of your dreams' in the article. Worcestershire's quintessentially English feel is summed up by these comments: "The delightfully dinky stands have been built up of light, which makes it look slightly more imposing and modern, but the pavilions still look like taverns from the middle ages.

"When Graeme Hick effortlessly lofts another ball into the surrounding river, accompanied by a smattering of applause, we all settle back into our stripey deckchairs with a smile."

The two greatest New Road moments are picked out as Hick's imperious 172 against the touring West Indians in 1988 and Fred Root's devastating 9-23 against Lancashire in 1931. Hick's innings, which came against the fearsome foursome of Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Pattrick Paterson and Ian Bishop, proved once and for all he could take on the best bowlers in the world.

Root, who played three Tests for England between the wars, skittled the Lancastrian side with his fine return coming off 18 overs.

Elsewhere in the magazine, Hick and Ben Smith also contribute to the 50 tips from the pros' section. Hick's tip is for one-day cricket and he says the on-strike batsman should always call the run because only he knows how hard the ball has been struck and at what angle.

Smith's advice is to always respect the opposition and never underestimate them as that will weaken your mind for the challenge.