Sussex's head groundsman Derek Traill believes he's beaten one of the wettest winters ever.

The county are due to stage their first home game on Tuesday when Essex visit Hove in the opening zonal tie in the Benson and Hedges Cup.

But while groundsmen all over the country were dealing with another deluge this week, Traill was able to say: "We're ready to play."

The first day of Sussex's opener against Worcestershire was predictably washed out on Wednesday when the inch of rain which had fallen in the previous 72 hours left parts of New Road under water for the sixth time this season.

But Traill insists there would have been a prompt start had the match taken place on his beloved greensward.

That didn't look like being the case a few weeks ago as Sussex struggled to cope after six months of rainfall equivalent to the amount which normally falls on tropical Colombo.

All the friendlies were cancelled and, apart from a day of middle practice when the sun briefly broke through the clouds, the players had to find alternative venues for their pre-season training.

But Traill took the decision to verti-drain the entire outfield three weeks ago, a job he had pencilled in for this winter.

And he's delighted with the result as well as the condition of the square.

"We verti-drained the whole outfield, drilling eight inch holes all over it and now it's draining a treat," said Traill.

"If we had been at home on Wednesday we would have started on time no problem.

"The pitch for the Essex game is dry and when the players had some middle practice there was no excessive seam movement."

Not surprisingly Traill and his three-man team are still behind schedule.

The new net area is still not in use and some of the titivating he would normally be doing at this time of the year has had to be put on hold.

He added: "There are little things which we haven't had time to do. There are a few daisies on the outfield because we haven't done any weedkilling and I'd like a bit more grass on the wicket ends.

"We haven't done as much pre-season rolling as I would like, but I think that's the same all over the country.

"The wicket for next week hasn't got the pace and bounce I would have wanted, but it will be fine."

Traill has certainly endured a tough baptism since taking over from the late Peter Eaton towards the end of last season.

You'd have thought he would have been use to bad weather having previously tended the square at the Mannofield club in Aberdeen.

Before the winter rain he re-laid two of the pitches on the moribund Hove square as well as working on the new net area at the Cromwell Road end which will be used in conjunction with the planned new indoor school.

He's also looking for another member of the groundstaff to replace Ian Card who left last week after ten years with the county.

Traill will have his work cut out in May. As well as three B&H qualifiers, there are two Championship fixtures at headquarters and a 2nd XI game.

He added: "Given a fair break with the weather I don't expect any problems. There's a fair bit of cricket this month with hopefully a Benson and Hedges quarter-final thrown in."

At that point we had to end our conversation. A black cloud was about to deposit its contents on the ground and Derek had to help his men get the covers on.