New Road is still recovering from heavy rainfall in recent days

The visitors were angered by the hosts' insistence on playing at New Road rather than elsewhere in the county or switching the contest to a Kent ground.

"We're not trying to be confrontational and sympathise with Worcestershire," Kent chief executive Paul Millman said.

"But we do not feel the game should go ahead under the present conditions."

The major factor for Worcestershire's decision to play at New Road is Friday's televised Pro40 match with Hampshire.

That game has become imperative to the club after they lost in the region of �170,000 because all their Twenty20 home ties were abandoned because New Road was flooded.

Worcester are prepared to go out there and we are not at the minute - it is just mud, as soon as you start running around on it, it is going to go all over the place Kent skipper Rob Key

Kent skipper Rob Key sympathised with Worcestershire chief executive Mark Newton, who made the decision to hold the contest at New Road.

"The bloke is in a nightmare situation really, with losing money hand over fist, and he has got to try to salvage the year financially," he said.

"The big game here is on Friday so I understand completely where they're coming from. But we just don't think the ground is acceptable for first-class cricket.

"The ground is nowhere near fit.

"Worcester are prepared to go out there and we are not at the minute. It is just mud. As soon as you start running around on it, it is going to go all over the place.

"If one of our bowlers twisted an ankle and got an injury, we are solely responsible for that and it is a very serious risk, then there is the health issue.

"You are going to have to spit on the ball and not put your hands in the mouth."

They have no justification for docking points if the game doesn't go ahead - there is nothing in the rules that would allow for that Worcs chief Mark Newton

Newton revealed that he had discussed the various implications of playing in soggy conditions with Key.

"For me, The health concerns are not an issue," he said.

"We had advice from our local authorities last week which was that there is nothing to worry about as long as you take normal precautions. Yes there is effluent in the flood water but it is very diluted."

The under-fire Worcestershire supremo was confident, however, that the club would not be in for further misery in the form of ECB punishment.

"The critical bit is when the pitch is played on, they have the ability to dock points," he explained.