Worcestershire have refused to blame Elton John for the lack of runs at New Road this season. The stage arrangements for a concert forced the county to play on the pavilion side of the square, where pitches retain more moisture, earlier in the season than usual. New Road’s opening four first-class matches produced only one century and six wickets from 144 for spinners. “The pitches have helped the seamers,” says Mark Newton, the county’s chief executive, “but whatever pitch you prepare it’s the same for both teams.” The wickets for the first three first-class matches at New Road were all marked “above average” by the umpires.

Meanwhile Steve Rhodes, director of cricket, can celebrate or drown his sorrows in the pavilion bar with a beer named after him. ‘Bumpy’s Brew’ is produced by the Wolverhampton & Dudley Brewery. Having sampled a pint, TWC concurs with Rhodes’ view that it is “full of character and not too strong. A good beer to relax with.”
Paul Bolton, The Wisden Cricketer