Worcestershire CCC have joined forces with Royal Grammar School, Worcester whose Flagge Meadow facilities are to be used as the County's emergency back-up ground should there be a repeat of the summer floods of 2007.
The devastating mid-season deluge left Worcestershire having to play all of their home matches from early July onwards that summer away from the city.
In recent years contingency plans have been in place with Kidderminster CCC at Chester Road should the same scenario of nine years ago occur again.
The facilities have been upgraded at Flagge Meadow during the past 12 months and the County will continue to play Second Eleven cricket on the ground – as well as at Kidderminster.
It further strengthens the links between the County and RGS with former Worcestershire opener Tim Curtis now vice-chairman and a Board member at New Road in addition to being Director Of Sport at the school.
Worcestershire CCC Interim CEO Tom Scott said: "With regards to the RGS ground, it's going to be used as our back-up ground and it's good to have such a facility based in the City of Worcester.
"It basically means if there was a flood at New Road during the season or, for any reason we couldn't play any games here, we would de-camp to the RGS in an emergency.
"That is the plan although obviously we hope that won't happen after the devastation to the County of what happened in 2007.
"The facilities at Flagge Meadow have been upgraded over the past 12 months and will continue to be upgraded. It is an ongoing upgrading programme.
"The groundstaff and Kevin Sharp (Worcestershire Second Eleven Coach) are supportive of the scheme.
"There are strong links with the school. Our vice-chairman Tim Curtis is on the Worcestershire Board so we've got a direct connection with the school and he is very supportive of the scheme.
"There will be Second Eleven matches played there again this year and we are still using Kidderminster for Second Eleven games and are under-taking part of our pre-season practice programme there from next week."
