Glamorgan groundsman leaves after dangerous pitch

Keith Exton, the Glamorgan groundsman, has left his role with immediate effect just days before the international T20 double-header in Cardiff following the dangerous pitch which forced a Royal London Cup match against Hampshire to be abandoned earlier this month.

Exton had recently been put on "gardening leave" as the club investigated the incident which led to them being fined £9000 - £5000 of which was suspended until the end of the 2016 season and £4000 ordered in compensation to Hampshire - while they were also handed a two-point penalty.

Glamorgan had suffered a previous two-point penalty last year - which meant they began this season on minus two - for a pitch rated "poor", again in the Royal London Cup, against Durham. It was the same strip in both instances.

Exton's assistant, Robin Saxton, had already been put in charge of producing the pitch for the third Women's T20 - which could yet be an Ashes decider - and the one-off match between the men which follows on August 31.

The match on August 2 against Hampshire was called off 6.4 overs into the second innings when Jimmy Adams was struck on the helmet by a delivery from Michael Hogan which climbed alarmingly off a length.

At the time Hugh Morris, the Glamorgan chief executive, called it "a dark day for the club".

In a brief statement following Exton's departure he said: "On behalf of Glamorgan County Cricket Club I would like to thank Keith for the contribution he has made to the club and wish him well in his future endeavours."

The club statement made mention of the two Ashes pitches Exton had produced - in 2009 and this year - the second of which ended in a four-day England victory.