Somerset have been penalised four points after breaching the ECB Pitch Regulations during their County Championship game against Durham in July.
The Independent Cricket Discipline Panel (CDP) deducted the club four points from this year’s competition, with a further four points suspended until the end of 2027. The sanction followed the Durham fixture at Taunton, played from July 22 to 25.
A total of 35 wickets fell inside five sessions, with 22 falling to spin, as Somerset defeated Durham by five wickets. Batting first, Durham were dismissed for 145 in 30.1 overs in the first innings, before Somerset were all out for 250. In reply, Durham lost two more wickets at the end of the first day’s play, leaving a total of 22 wickets going down on the opening day. Overall, a wicket fell every 4.3 overs, drawing sharp criticism from among others Ian Botham, who called the quality of the track “appalling.”
Later, the pitch was termed 'Below Average”, with the Cricket Regulator confirming a breach of ECB Pitch Regulations, leading to the formal charge and points deduction.
According to the ECB Pitch Regulations, a wicket will be rated “Below Average” if it exhibits “more than occasional” unevenness. The other parameters to judge a wicket are seam movement, carry and/or bounce and turn. It further elaborates: “Fulfilment of the lowest criteria will determine the overall rating for the Pitch. For example, if the Pitch demonstrates no unevenness, a little seam movement, lacks carry and/or bounce, but demonstrates considerable turn, then it must be rated “Below Average” due to the failure to meet a higher turn criterion.”
Eight points will also be deducted for a “Below Average” pitch prepared by a team in the County Championship.
Somerset’s history with below-par pitches in county cricket
This latest point deduction adds to Somerset’s history of disciplinary measures relating to their home surfaces. In 2019, the pitch used in their Championship decider against Essex was rated “Poor” due to excessive unevenness of bounce. The CDC handed down a 24-point penalty, comprising 12 immediate points and a further 12 suspended for two years. Because the 2020 season was replaced by the Bob Willis Trophy, the immediate 12-point deduction was rolled over to 2021, but was later reduced to an eight-point penalty due to the revised County Championship format following the Covid-19 pandemic. It left Somerset to start that Championship campaign on negative eight points.
Somerset were also warned in 2018 after a two-day finish against Lancashire, and in 2017, the Taunton surface for a relegation play-off against Middlesex was branded “a disgrace” by then Middlesex director of cricket Angus Fraser.
Somerset are not the only team to be penalised for preparing a pitch that garnered sanctions. Hampshire were also docked eight points and fined £5000 after their wicket for the fixture against Sussex at Utilita Bowl in May was rated “Below Average.”
Somerset are currently third on the points table in Division One, on 179 points from 13 games, 10 points behind Surrey and 11 points clear of fourth-placed Warwickshire.
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