HEAD coach Kevin Sharp says the importance of Worcestershire’s pre-season training camp in Abu Dhabi has been highlighted after their two-day clash with Gloucestershire at Bristol was abandoned.

More heavy rain on Wednesday left puddles on the already saturated outfield and resulted in the inevitable call-off of the warm-up fixture for the new season.

Sharp is already making contingency plans to ensure the squad continue to build up for the new campaign in the best way possible.

But he also feels the current wet weather shows the value of the 11-day training camp in the UAE earlier this month.

Sharp said: “We will go to Malvern College and practice and we are planning ahead for the next few days to make sure we do what we can to keep ticking along.

“You can’t do anything about the weather and there are puddles on the outfield which is also muddy in places.

“But the key is what we have done work-wise for the last three or four weeks is priceless and has shown the importance of the tour of Abu Dhabi.

“The lads have been able to get good training and good cricket in the bank which will stand them in good stead.

“This weather is the same for everyone across the county and some counties haven’t got under their belts the outdoor practice and match play we managed in Abu Dhabi.”

Worcestershire are next scheduled to be in action from Sunday when they take on Leeds-Bradford MCCU in a first class fixture at RGS Worcester.