FEARS that Kent’s St Lawrence cricket ground in Canterbury could turn into a summer dustbowl once drought orders come into force across the south east next month have prompted a concerted response.

Kent and the England and Wales Cricket Board are lobbying MPs in a bid to alleviate the potential effects, should Kent and the 280 amateur clubs across the county be banned from watering their pitches.

County chief executive Paul Millman and ECB chief executive David Collier have contacted water suppliers Southern Water, while the ECB have written to Margaret Beckett MP, the chief minister for DEFRA, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Mr Millman said: "We are concerned that drought orders don’t impact our plans for cricket and that the water authorities give the game dispensation, as was the case in 1976 and again in the 1990s.

"It’s critical for the preparation of safe cricket pitches that some water is used and it’s a horrible prospect that hosting cricket games could come under pressure through lack of water.

"I am concerned not just for first-class cricketers, but for almost 300 amateur clubs in Kent and more than100 junior sections, who may face quite serious situations if they’re asked to play on dustbowls come mid-July.

"We are delighted with the support we are getting from local MPs and the ECB, but the more allies we have in making the case to Margaret Beckett the better."

Faversham and Mid-Kent MP Hugh Robertson, shadow sports and Olympics spokesman, believes county and community cricket clubs should receive dispensation from drought orders.

He said: "It shouldn't be impossible to solve and I plan to raise the issue in parliament. I intend to write to Margaret Beckett and suggest that she does take on board the ECB suggestions."

"Frankly, you'd have to be a bit of a plank to refuse Kent permission to water their square at St Lawrence, which has well over 100 years of development as a cricket wicket behind it, with a result that it goes up in dust to be ruined within a matter of weeks.

"The other issue, that of safety, is paramount and I’m particularly keen to avoid any situation whereby an 11-year-old is put off the game of cricket for life because he may have played on an unsuitably dry or possibly dangerous club pitch.

"I think the answer is to exempt the squares at first-class grounds and allow community grounds limited access to water in the evenings."

In the meantime, groundsmen across the county are left praying for rain.