Derbyshire CCC hit with penalty

The penalisation comes into force due to a ‘poor’ pitch rating during Derbyshire’s recent Yorkshire Bank 40 fixture at home to Durham Dynamos.

After consideration, an ECB Pitch Panel upheld the Umpires’ decision that the pitch, for the fixture which was staged at the County Ground on August 15, had demonstrated excessive turn and should therefore be rated as ‘poor’.

There were no circumstances relating to the preparation of the pitch that negated any penalty being imposed and therefore Karl Krikken’s men will start the 2014 competition on -2 points.

Chief Executive of Derbyshire CCC Simon Storey commented: “Whilst we have to accept the verdict, the Pitch Panel’s review confirmed that there was nothing to indicate in advance that the pitch would behave as it did.

“There is no suggestion of any intention to produce a favourable playing surface for the home side.

“Indeed there was no way our groundstaff could have predicted the resulting outcome.

“The fixture in question was played on the same pitch used for the Twenty20 game against Leicestershire at the end of July.

“It was prepared in the exactly the same way.”