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Trent Bridge pitch rated 'poor' by match referee

The Trent Bridge pitch came in for criticism from the England team, among others © ESPNcricinfo Ltd/Sidharth Monga

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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 391/9, 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.

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.

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.

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