Kent have slammed the four counties who blocked the England and Wales Cricket Board's proposal to award them extra points as compensation for the abandonment of their recent LV County Championship clash with Worcestershire.

Chairman Carl Openshaw has accused Lancashire, Yorkshire, Warwickshire and Durham of acting with "self interest" in denying them from being awarded nine points instead of the normal four from the four-day wash-out.

The ECB had offered this as a possible solution after deciding it was not feasible to proceed with their initial plan to allow the game to be replayed next week as New Road was still flooded.

But it needed the backing of all the Division One clubs - including Hampshire - for the extra points to be awarded.

Now fuming Kent, locked in a relegation battle with Worcestershire and Surrey, are deciding whether to pursue legal action.

Openshaw said: "Everyone connected with Kent cricket is extremely disappointed at the way this situation has unfolded and by the eventual outcome.

"We find it extraordinary that four counties should have decided to overturn the ECB's proposal to resolve this matter for what can only be regarded as reasons of self-interest.

"From the outset, it was recognised that Kent was the totally innocent party and had, as the ECB put it, 'been disadvantaged by Worcestershire's decision not to relocate the match to another venue'.

"The ECB had, therefore, sought to find an equitable solution, firstly by deciding that the match should be rescheduled (to which a number of counties objected) and subsequently by proposing that Kent should be awarded five additional points in compensation.

"Lancashire, Yorkshire, Warwickshire and Durham were not prepared to support this proposal.

"It should be noted that Yorkshire, Warwickshire and Durham had all gained at least 20 points from their matches with Worcestershire.

"The average number of points gained by all counties against Worcestershire up to that date was 16 (compared to the total of nine points which ECB had proposed for Kent)".

Openshaw added: "The Kent players, who sat through predominantly fine weather at Worcester with no prospect of play and who have seen recent matches relocated in similar circumstances, feel cheated.

"The members and supporters of Kent have been badly let down. Kent County Cricket Club continues to consider its position in this matter and is reserving all its legal rights".

The ECB, in a statement, said: "The Board further determined that the resolution to reschedule the match was flawed in that it could provide advantage to Worcestershire.

"The alternative of restricting them from earning additional points in a rescheduled match could mean that the match would not be truly competitive.

"The Board therefore determined to test the proposal to award Kent nine points and Worcestershire four points from the abandoned match by putting the proposal to the nine affected Counties for ratification.

"Durham, Lancashire, Warwickshire and Yorkshire indicated that they would not support the proposal.

"The New Road venue is flooded and could not host the match on the rescheduled dates. The board has therefore determined the only option left to it which is that the match be abandoned and that Worcestershire and Kent shall each gain four points".

Worcestershire yesterday revealed they are still hopeful of staging the championship match with Hampshire at New Road in September.