13 Aug 2014 | Cricket
Glamorgan County Cricket Club has been penalised with a two point deduction for the 2015 50-over competition due to a 'poor' pitch rating during the recent Royal London One Day Cup fixture with Durham at the SWALEC Stadium.
After consideration, an ECB Pitch Panel upheld the Umpires' decision that the pitch, for the fixture held in Cardiff on August 8th, was rated as 'poor' and Toby Radford's men will start the 2015 competition on -2 points.
Chief Executive and Director of Cricket Hugh Morris said: Whilst we 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 an intention to produce a favourable playing surface for the home side. Indeed there was no way our Groundstaff could have predicted the resulting outcome.
In 2011 the Club began a pitch improvement programme with two new pitches being re-laid each winter from 2011 to 2014. This investment was taken after years of umpire reports that the wickets were often low and slow in Cardiff. The feedback we have received from the ECB, umpire reports and visiting teams, both domestic and international, for the newly laid surfaces has been positive, including during last year's ICC Champions Trophy.
However, in line with current ECB regulations, in this instance the Pitch Panel upheld the Umpires initial rating for this newly laid wicket used for the Durham game last week and penalised the Club with an automatic penalty for the 2015 season.
I can ensure supporters that this will only reinforce our desire and ambition to compete in next season's competition.