KENT'S Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy clash with Berkshire today was in danger of falling foul to the weather as they arrived in Reading to find conditions apparently unfit for first-class cricket.

A patchily mown outfield, flooded square and a re-seeded football goalmouth at the edge of the square were all indicators that no play would be possible, even if rain continued to hold off.

Match umpires Neil Bainton and David Constant agreed that the players should take an early lunch, with a view to a pitch inspection at 12.30pm, at which time they expected to call things off for the day.

In the meantime, Kent have made protestations to Lord's and have asked head of operations Alan Fordham to switch the game to Canterbury.

Officials in St John's Wood may well block their request however, as to move the tie outside the county boundary would deny Berkshire the advantage of a home draw.

The Sonning Road ground, home of Reading Hockey and Cricket Club, has also been shared as Reading Football Club's training headquarters which has clearly left conditions unsuitable for cricket.

That, coupled with a forecast for further rain, may well ensure this tie is decided by a bowl-out sometime on Thursday.

Kent captain David Fulton intends to leave Pakistani paceman Mohammad Sami out of their squad if the game gets under way.

Amjad Khan or David Stiff would step in while Sami takes a break with batsman Michael Carberry replacing spinner Rob Ferley.