Referee condemns \\\'poor\\\' Trent Bridge pitch

LONDON, July 19 (AFP): English cricket authorities faced the prospect of a $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.
Former Australia batsman Boon's verdict, announced by the International Cricket Council on Saturday, 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.
Boon, who played Test cricket in England during the 1980s and 1990s, oversaw proceedings at Trent Bridge where, almost from the start of the match, there were complaints about an unusually dry and lifeless surface which denied the faster bowlers their due reward.
Indeed so severe was the criticism, that groundsman Steve Birks took the unusual step of issuing a public apology.
The ICC said Boon, as per their regulations, had submitted a report to the global governing body expressing his concerns over the quality of the pitch.
This report has been forwarded to the England and Wales Cricket Board, which now has 14 days to respond.
When the ECB has responded, the ICC's general manager 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.