Trent Bridge pitch rated 'poor' by match referee

[Lord]

The pitch at Trent Bridge, which hosted the first Investec Test between England and India, was rated 'poor' by match referee David Boon, the ICC has said in a release. Boon's report has been forwarded to the ECB, and it has 14 days to provide an official response. The track came under heavy scrutiny from the first day of the Test, and it remained flat all through as the match did not go into a fourth innings. While India scored 457 and 391 for 9, England scored 496 in the drawn game. England pacer James Anderson had stated the side was "frustrated" with the pitch and it had not helped them capitalise on the home advantage. After the first day's play, Steve Birks, the Trent Bridge groundsman, also admitted he was disappointed with the surface and said he may have "have left a bit more grass on" the pitch. An ECB statement was at pains to suggest that improved drainage in outfields on England's Test grounds, specifically Trent Bridge in this case, did not affect the behaviour of the pitch. It has been widely speculated that better drainage has contributed to drying out squares on several grounds and changing their character. "ECB and Nottinghamshire are already working closely to address the uncharacteristic nature of the pitch for the Test match and ECB pitch inspector Chris Wood and Nottinghamshire groundsman Steve Birks are planning the corrective action required under the Clause 4.1 of the ICC's Pitch Monitoring Process. "It has already been established that the drainage system at Trent Bridge played no part in the unexpected issues that arose around the preparation and performance of the Test Match wicket." Once the ECB submits its response, Geoff Allardice, the ICC's general manager, and Ranjan Madugalle, the chief match referee, will study the evidence, including footage from the game. If the pitch is deemed as poor, a penalty will be imposed in accordance with the ICC's Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process. Nottinghamshire's chief executive, Lisa Pursehouse, was quick to defend Birks' reputation. "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," she said. "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." According to the ICC's process, if a pitch is rated poor, the penalty on the first occasion is a warning and/or a fine of up to $15000 along with a directive for corrective action. On second and subsequent occasions, within five years of the first report, a fine not exceeding $30,000 is handed along with a directive. The track at Trent Bridge was in the news earlier in the English domestic season, when a Division One game between Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire ended in three days. A pitch panel convened by the ECB decided not to impose a penalty on Nottinghamshire for the state of the pitch then.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-india-2014/content/story/761929.html

[Iconoclast]

Great .. I hope they rate Asian pitches accordingly.

[JaiRamesh2]

Great .. I hope they rate Asian pitches accordingly.

They probably do that. The irony is the worst pitches are at the home of ICC, UAE and of course Sri Lanka, over the last fiver years around 50% of Tests have been results, a borefest. Whilst in similar period Indian pitches have been perfect, over 80% of Tests being results