Leicestershire reject pitch request

West Indies coach John Dyson regarded the surface as sub-standard on the opening day of their three-day warm-up match after 14 wickets fell, only for a young Leicestershire side to comfortably bat out the final day to earn a draw.

"For me it's been an excellent game of cricket over three days and been an excellent cricket wicket and the very fact a young side were able to battle it out on the final day shows that it's been a good batting wicket throughout," said Leicestershire chief executive David Smith.

But after only eight wickets fell in 164.3 overs of the final two days, Dyson changed his mind about the surface and approached Leicestershire to see whether they could use it for practice later today prior to this weekend's second warm-up match against Essex in Chelmsford.

Counties are normally more than willing to grant such requests from touring sides, but Dyson's comments riled Leicestershire to such an extent they denied him access to the middle although they have allowed use of their nets.

Smith added: "I'm somewhat intrigued the West Indies coach has been critical of the wicket on day one and has now asked if they can practice on it and I don't think it's appropriate after his comments.

"They will be practising in the nets and they are very welcome, but I didn't take too kindly to the comments."

Former Australian batsman Dyson attempted to play down any row and claimed to know nothing about Leicestershire's irritation, saying: "There's a nice big field out here so I'm sure we'll find something to do - there's no problem."

But there is no doubt his ill-advised comments have prevented the use of good batting facilities as the tourists build up to the start of the Test series at Lord's on May 6.

The tourists have only this weekend's match against Essex and the four-day match against England Lions at Derby starting next Thursday before they report at Lord's for the start of the two-Test series.