Somerset handed points deduction for 'below average' pitch

Somerset have been deducted four points in the Rothesay County Championship for a breach of ECB Pitch Regulations.

The charge pertains to Somerset's Division One fixture at against Durham in July which saw 35 wickets fall in just five sessions. Lord Ian Botham, Durham's honorary president, accused his former county of deliberately preparing a playing surface that "reduces the game to a farce".

Match referee Simon Hink subsequently rated the Taunton pitch "below average", with standing umpires Ian Blackwell and Martin Saggers noting the excessive turn across days one and two. The Pitch Regulations apply to all counties, with regulation 4.1 stating pitches must be prepared to provide "an even contest between bat and ball, and must allow all disciplines in the game to flourish".

Following an investigation by the Cricket Regulator, which included statements from players and coaches of both clubs, the Cricket Discipline Panel (CDP) has handed Somerset a sanction of eight points, of which four are suspended until the close of play of the last day of the 2027 season. The immediate deduction means their season points tally drops to 175, though they remain third in Division One.

While conduciveness to spin and the result - Somerset won by five wickets - were deemed aggravating factors, the tribunal acknowledged the club had sought to prepare the best possible pitch, and that the "substandard pitch rating" was their first in the last 24 months.

The tribunal also deemed it "inherently unlikely" that Somrerset deliberately prepared a poor surface given the hosts bowled first after winning the toss, exposing themselves to batting last when conditions would have been at their toughest. It also noted the voluntary steps the club has already taken to trial alternative loam to improve its pitches at Taunton, and their co-operation throughout the process.

"Whilst we are disappointed by the outcome, we are pleased that the tribunal rejected any suggestion that the Club deliberately sought to produce a substandard wicket," said Somerset chief executive Jamie Cox in a statement released by the club. "We would also like to thank the CDP for their clarity and transparency throughout the hearing process.

"Somerset County Cricket Club will always aspire to produce the best possible pitches which will ensure an enthralling contest between bat and ball."