Yorkshire fuming at New Road decision

The ECB's ruling that Worcestershire's County Championship match against Kent will be replayed later this month has sparked angry reaction from Yorkshire who feel it has set a dangerous precedent.

Even though the ECB stressed the extraordinary situation regarding the events at New Road over the past week, Yorkshire coach Martyn Moxon called the decision "an absolute disgrace" and the club are expected to make a further announcement.

"I've spoken to [chief executive] Stewart Regan already - and I think we're going to put in a formal complaint," he said. "We've lost half of our last two Championship games [to rain]. Do we get the chance to replay those two days in both those games?

"We've had to suffer the consequences of the weather. How are we going to claw back the lost time we've had? Worcestershire, from what they and Kent have said, were expecting this game to go ahead. It hasn't, so surely Worcestershire have to carry the can for that."

Yorkshire's recent Championship match, against Lancashire at Old Trafford, lost the first two days to a flooded outfield and Moxon added: "We had a flooded ground here after the rain on Monday. Is that exceptional circumstances?"

However, the Surrey chief executive, Paul Sheldon, was more understanding of the situation: "We are at the bottom of the County Championship with these two teams and replaying the game may not help us but you have to be objective and, in the circumstances, it was a fair decision by the ECB."

Mark Newton, Worcestershire's chief executive, took the decision not to relocate the match and the result was the game being abandoned on the third day due to unplayable conditions. The match will now be replayed on July 30-August 3 with a one day break on August 2 because Worcestershire have a Pro40 match at Chelmsford.