County Championship: Gloucestershire escape penalty over alleged pitch regulation breach
Gloucestershire have avoided a penalty from the Cricket Regulator for an alleged violation of pitch regulations. As per ESPNcricinfo, this decision came after their County Championship Division Two match against Northamptonshire was prematurely ended due to concerns about safety of players on a hybrid pitch. The County cricket match which was held in Bristol at the end of August, was halted after just 65.1 overs by on-field umpires Chris Watts and Sue Redfern during the final session. Here's more.
Player injuries led to match abandonment
The decision to call off the match was made after Northamptonshire batters Ricardo Vasconcelos and Rob Keogh were injured by Gloucestershire pacer Ajeet Singh Dale. Vasconcelos sustained a fracture in his finger, leading to their retirement from the game. Following this incident, Northamptonshire were awarded a total of 11 points while Gloucestershire received none due to the premature end of the match.
Cricket regulator supports umpires' decision
The Cricket Regulator conducted a comprehensive investigation into the incident, involving interviews with match officials, captains, coaches, and groundstaff. They also reviewed live stream footage and expert technical reports. The disciplinary body decided not to press charges against Gloucestershire at this time but issued a warning to prevent such situations in future. The regulator fully backed the on-field umpires' decision to abandon the match due to significantly uneven and dangerous bounce on the pitch.
Gloucestershire's response to the regulator's decision
In response to the regulator's decision, Gloucestershire expressed their disappointment in relation to the match officials' decision to abandon the game. The club stated that this incident has not only damaged their reputation and finances but also hindered their promotion aspirations. Despite this setback, they accepted the regulator's recommendation to collaborate with ECB on pitch preparation and committed to preventing such incidents in future matches.
Summary of the two teams in County Championship Division 2
Gloucestershire are currently playing their 12th match of the 2024 County Championship Division 2. After 11 games, they have won one, lost two, tied one and drawn six (1 NR). They are placed 6th. Meanwhile, Northamptonshire too are invloved in their 12th game. After 11 matches, they are placed 7th. They have three defeats and eight draws. In terms of points tally, Gloucestrshire own 124 points to Northamptonshire's 114.
