Date-stamped : 23 May96 - 18:16
21 May 1996

Warwicks fears over pitch for first Test

By Mike Beddow

WARWICKSHIRE may have to change the pitch for the first  Cornhill
Test  match, which starts at Edgbaston on June 6. A decision will
be made this week after consultation with Harry Brind, the  pitch
inspector for the Test and County Cricket Board.

Warwickshire had already chosen to move  away  from  last  year`s
Test pitch, which was heavily critcised after England`s defeat in
three days by the West Indies.  But now the county are  concerned
about problems with grass growth on their alternative pitch.

Another pitch is  being  prepared  and   groundsman  Steve  Rouse
will  be guided by Brind in choosing which  of  the two should be
used for England`s encounter with India.

Warwickshire`s  chief  executive,  Dennis   Amiss, said: "We have
been  using  heavier  soil  to  get  harder,  faster pitches, but
it is more difficult to grow grass on that type  of  soil.   "The
cold,  windy  weather  has  not   helped   and   the pitch we had
prepared is thinly grassed. But the  one  adjacent to  it  seemes
to have a more even covering."

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http.//www.telegraph.co.uk)

<END> Contributed by Shash (shs2@*.cwru.edu)