A pitch panel, comprising of Mike Denness and Alan Fordham, met in Scarborough yesterday to discuss the pitch currently in use in the PPP healthcare County Championship match between Yorkshire CCC and Surrey CCC. The pitch was rated as 'poor' and the penalty of an eight point reduction has therefore been imposed on Yorkshire CCC.

A pitch panel has to decide on two factors, based on evidence heard and from what its members physically see, using their cricketing experience:

1. What rating to give the pitch.
2. Whether there were sufficient extenuating circumstances which would negate the imposition of a points penalty.

In the opinion of the pitch panel, due to the amount of grass left on the pitch from the start of the match, there was undue seam movement and undue uneven bounce. There were no extenuating circumstances to take into account.

The pitch meets two of the criteria for a poor pitch, in other words undue seam movement and undue uneven bounce at any time in the match.

The pitch has therefore been rated 'poor' and the penalty of an eight point reduction has been imposed on Yorkshire CCC.

For further information, please contact Mark Hodgson, ECB Corporate Affairs, on 020 7432 1251 / 07767 764 947

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