HAMPSHIRE chairman Rod Bransgrove has complained to the England and Wales Cricket board about the current state of the Old Trafford outfield.

The chairman is angry that his title-chasing side were left kicking their heels because of Tuesday's abandonment of the first day.

Old Trafford was left unplayable that day due to the after-effects of an Arctic Monkeys concert on the pitch last month.

"I have made a protest to the ECB and I've already spoken to operations directors Alan Fordham and John Carr to make our views known," Bransgrove said.

"I only saw a visual of the ground but Paul Terry and Shane Warne told me that it was a disgrace."

Bransgrove also said the Hampshire players were playing yesterday under duress and protest on a surface that is a health hazard after two Arctic Monkeys concerts.

"For professional sportsmen to be charging around on an outfield like that like has to be unhealthy," he added.

Disgusting

Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes replied: "I think Rod Bransgrove has gone a little bit over the top.

"He says that he was told the conditions were disgusting and that there was sewage on the outfield. I don't know where he has got that from."

Cumbes also added that he believes that Bransgrove was only sounding off because of self-interest with regards to promoting the Rose Bowl as an international venue.

"I know exactly where Rod is coming from. Quite rightly he is trying to promote the Rose Bowl as an international venue - and I fully understand that.

"But if he is doing that by the virtue of playing down anybody else, then I think that is unnecessary.

"Some of the stuff he has said today is completely over the top."

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