International Cricket Council representative Clive Lloyd inspected The Rose Bowl today - but NOT the controversial wicket.

West Indies legend Lloyd was due at West End with a representative of the England and Wales Cricket Board with the ICC in need of confirmation that The Rose Bowl is equipped to stage its inaugural one-day international between South Africa and Zimbabwe on July 10 next year.

But there are already doubts as to whether The Rose Bowl has a wicket that can do justice to international cricket after the county were docked eight points for the pitch prepared for last week's championship match with Lancashire.

But Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove is confident that the events of the last fortnight - the wickets for the India clash and Lancashire day-nighter were also criticised - won't stop Hampshire Cricket being given the go-ahead.

An England one-day international is still expected to take place at The Rose Bowl in 2004 and Bransgrove wants the ground to host Test match cricket in 2005.

Speaking before the inspection he said: "This has been the first time we've had a wicket that's misbehaved here. I don't think it'll be a problem.

"The ICC inspectors will be looking at access to the ground and local hotels, that sort of thing."

Director of cricket Tim Tremlett said: "Clive Lloyd will be checking on things like security and facilities for players, umpires, match referees and the media.

"They will not be looking at the square - that's something else that the ECB are looking into."

Hampshire's appeal against the docking of eight championship points will be heard by a three-man ECB panel at Lord's tomorrow morning.

Two Hampshire representatives will be asked to put the club's case to a panel chaired by Gerard Elias QC and including former Middlesex chairman Alan Moss and ECB representative John Pickup.

Alan Fordham, Tony Brown and Chris Wood, the ECB trio who inspected the square at West End last week, will also be present, along with Hampshire groundsman Nigel Gray, who will be called as a witness.

© Daily Echo