Derby pitch warning

An ECB Pitch Panel comprising Tony Brown and John Jameson (Pitch Liaison Officers) was convened today at Derby to conduct a hearing in respect of the pitch used for Derbyshire's Twenty20 Cup match against Nottinghamshire on Thursday 19 June 2003 that had been marked "Poor" by the Umpires.

The Panel reviewed statements by the umpires and interviewed the captains and coaches of both teams and the groundsman. The Panel agreed with the umpires that the pitch had displayed very minimal bounce and had therefore correctly been rated "Poor".

Derbyshire have been served notice that any subsequent one-day pitch marked "Poor" in the next 12 months will receive a penalty appropriate to the competition in which that second pitch is rated "poor" - i.e. a two point deduction if a National Cricket League match, a one point deduction if a Twenty20 Cup match and, if a Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy match, concession of home advantage for the next occasion they are drawn at home.