English cricket authorities face the prospect of a A$16,000 ($15,000) "fine after the docile Trent Bridge pitch on which England and India played out a draw in last week's first Test was rated as 'poor' by match referee David Boon," according to the AFP. It is the first time a Test pitch in England "has been labelled as 'poor' by a match referee and will undoubtedly add to the embarrassment felt by officials at Nottinghamshire over the sub-standard nature of their usually excellent wicket." When the England & Wales Cricket Board has responded, the Int'l Cricket Council's GM of cricket and chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle "will consider all the available evidence, including video footage, to decide whether they agree with Boon’s assessment and, if so, what penalty, if any, should be imposed under their pitch monitoring process."
The first time a pitch is rated as “poor” by the ICC, a warning and or fine not exceeding A$16,000 "can be imposed, together with a directive for 'appropriate corrective action.'"
However, such a judgment "would not see a ground stripped of its right to stage international matches" (AFP, 7/19).
