WORCESTERSHIRE have changed the start day and venue for their upcoming County Championship home clash with Sussex due to flooding.

The Division Two encounter has been moved from Blackfinch New Road, where water has already invaded the ground from the neighbouring River Severn, to Kidderminster's Chester Road home.

And the match will start on Tuesday at 11am rather than on Monday to give the County extra time to prepare the facilities for the first-class fixture, particularly with the ongoing wet weather.

Worcestershire CEO Matt Rawnsley said: “This is not an ideal situation and we would always prefer to play at Blackfinch New Road.

"However, the change of venue gives us the best chance of playing this fixture.

“Kidderminster Cricket Club has hosted many first-class fixtures over the years and we are extremely grateful for their assistance at such short notice.

"We would also like to thank the ECB and Sussex for their corporation.”

Worcestershire return to Championship action at Kidderminster for the first time in 11 years.

The County were last involved in a four-day fixture at Chester Road in September 2008 against Middlesex – a match also switched from New Road due to flooding.

There are three survivors from that game who are part of the current County set-up in opener Daryl Mitchell, England all-rounder Moeen Ali and bowling coach Alan Richardson who was part of the Middlesex attack.

The flood of 2007 also meant Kidderminster hosted the Championship fixtures with Yorkshire in August and Hampshire the following month.

Chester Road was a regular venue for Worcestershire Championship fixtures for many years.

Games were staged there between 1921 and 1973 and returned after a 14-year break between 1987 and 2002.

A first-class game was held at Kidderminster in 2005 against Loughborough UCCE when former captain Mitchell made his first-class debut.

It was announced the early-season 2012 meeting with Surrey was also being switched to Chester Road because of flooding fears.

But it was then moved back to Blackfinch New Road at short notice as the waters receded.

The last County first-team fixture at the venue was a Clydesdale Bank 40 League game against the Netherlands in 2012.