Downpour delays basement battle

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The first day of the crucial LV= County Championship clash between Division One relegation rivals Worcestershire and Lancashire was washed out after a prolonged downpour at New Road.

The rain set in as the captains, Daryl Mitchell and Glen Chapple, were preparing to toss the coin and in a couple of hours pools of water formed close to the covers on the pavilion side of the ground.

Umpires Trevor Jesty and David Millns called for an early lunch but conditions only worsened until they made the inevitable decision to abandon play for the day at 2:25pm.

Worcestershire are without Phil Hughes after his call-up to the Australia A side playing England Lions at Edgbaston.

With leg-spinner Brett D’Oliveira rested after last week’s seven-wicket defeat by Warwickshire, director of cricket Steve Rhodes brought batsmen James Cameron and Neil Pinner into the squad.

Lancashire left out Stephen Moore for the meeting with his former county following his run of 20 championship innings without a half-century this season. All-rounder Luke Procter returns after injury.

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