A ROW over advertising rights on the pitch covers at Lord's has been simmering during the build-up to the second Test against Australia.

As Richie Benaud summarises play on television this evening, the camera might dwell on the traditional view of the empty ground . . . with a glimpse of the covered pitch and its coveted advertisement canopy.

The serene picture hardly reflects the indignant exchanges behind the scenes, which suggest that the influence of NatWest Bank, one of cricket's biggest spenders, is becoming overblown.

Hill Samuel Asset Management, independently of their Middlesex sponsorship, bought the rights for the Lord's covers for the year on the open market. Instead, the name of a rival fund management company - a subsidiary of NatWest - has appeared.

The MCC vetoed the original purchase in order not to offend NatWest, who are contributing an unspecified amount to the new £3.5 million media centre, which will bear the bank's name.

They have shown less concern at upsetting Hill Samuel and, indirectly, Middlesex, who play most of their home games at Lord's.

There have already been difficulties over Hill Samuel's involvement with Middlesex. NatWest's agreement with the England and Wales Cricket Board apparently gives them the right to veto county sponsorship by competing banks or finance houses, though in this case it was successfully argued that Hill Samuel were in neither category.

Hill Samuel, who have pledged £750,000 to Middlesex over three years, are disgusted that the name Gartmore, a rival company, has taken over a prominent feature at their county's home ground.

Ian Pascal, marketing operations manager at Hill Samuel, said: ``I can understand the MCC not wanting to upset NatWest, but the fact that they have given the covers to a direct competitor of ours is a little beyond the pale.''

Chris Rea, the MCC's marketing manager, said: ``Unfortunately, the deal [with Hill Samuel] was concluded without any reference to MCC. When I saw this, I realised it cut across the spirit of our agreement with NatWest, who have sponsored the media centre to a fairly substantial degree, and within that there is an advertising package.''

Across the Thames at the Oval, Surrey have handled the restoration of their ground with exemplary even-handedness. The brewers Foster's, who injected £1.5 million in 1988, benefit from the most prominent advertising boards, while the four pitch covers - black with white lettering - are sponsored by . . . NatWest.