Chris Rea, press spokesman, said there was no question of MCC allowing pop concerts at Lord's. ``I can assure you there will be no pop concerts or anything like that. This is, at present, only a proposal and if we do decide to go down this route, it will be for something of a higher quality than a pop concert.''

Rea also denied that the proposal to open Lord's to such concerts has created a bitter division within the committee. ``It is absolute rubbish to say that there's any disagreement or rumpus about it, it's only one of many proposals the marketing committee have proposed to maximise our income.''

The ``higher quality'' concerts could be an opera or a show featuring performers such as Shirley Bassey. Indeed, this year, Bassey, who celebrated her 60th birthday, was keen to hire Lord's for a summer concert. But Lord's could not give her a date other than in September, when the cricket season is over, and she declined.

IAN BOTHAM has successfully seen off a writ issued by his former solicitors, Swepstone Walsh. They had issued a writ claiming £105,000 in unpaid fees.

At a hearing on Wednesday, Botham's lawyer, Nayanesh Desai, moved to have the writ struck off on the grounds that it did not comply with the Solicitors Act for bills. Swepstone Walsh initally resisted but then agreed to withdraw their writ. Botham has not paid any of the money demanded and Swepstone Walsh must start again.

Desai said: ``Ian always felt this was an unnecessary action and while he is pleased with his victory, he takes no pleasure in it as it shows that the laywers took too precipitate an action.''