The International Cricket Council have today announced that David Boon of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, who was the match referee for the first Test between England and India in Nottingham, has rated the pitch used at Trent Bridge as “poor”.
In accordance with Clause 3 of the ICC Pitch Monitoring Process, Mr Boon submitted his report to the ICC expressing his concerns over the quality of the pitch. This report has been forwarded to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which now has 14 days to provide its response.
“We are naturally disappointed to have produced a pitch rated poor, which is at odds with our record of producing consistently good pitches for international matches at Trent Bridge,” said Trent Bridge CEO Lisa Pursehouse.
“The role of a Test Match Venue groundsman is fraught with immense pressure and variable factors and we are blessed to have one of the very best in Steve Birks.
“We will cooperate fully with this process and re-establish our enduring reputation for producing good cricket wickets.”
After the ECB has submitted its response, ICC’s General Manager – Cricket, Geoff Allardice, and the ICC’s chief match referee, Ranjan Madugalle, will consider all the evidence, including studying video footage of the match, before reaching their decision on whether or not the pitch was poor and if so, if a penalty should be imposed in accordance with Clause 4 of the ICC Pitch Monitoring Process.
The ICC will make no further comments until Mr Allardice and Mr Madugalle have reached their decision.