WE are just one day into the new cricket season and the English weather has already had an impact.

Worcestershire were due to face Durham University in a three-day game but the opening day has been cancelled due to 'unsuitable conditions'.

The team, which included newcomers Rob Jones, Tom Taylor, Ethan Brookes and Yadvinder Singh, will now take part in a nets session instead. 

The Pears' season starts in under a month and they have already taken the decision to move the opening two home fixtures of the 2024 County Championship against Durham and Somerset to Kidderminster in order to give New Road time to recover after flooding four times over the winter.

Worcestershire will now hope to play a two-day fixture versus Hampshire at the Utilita Bowl starting next week (March 25-26). 

Ahead of the cricket getting back underway, head coach Alan Richardson said: "Just getting back out on grass in England is important. It is quite unique conditions and, no matter how many years you’ve played, it is about getting used to that again.

"We’ve got loads of practice in this week. We did quite a bit of fielding and fitness work on Monday and then the equivalent of nearly 300 overs batting and bowling at Kidderminster on Tuesday in the nets.

"The facilities were great and the practice wickets were excellent.

"There is always that buzz at the start of the season. Desert Springs just took us up a level from Malvern and this week the boys were desperate to get out there and practice.

"There has been good energy and intensity from the boys over these last two days."

Jake Libby was due to captain Worcestershire against Durham. Matthew Waite and Adam Finch were also named after missing the tail-end of last season through injury.