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Hampshire have been plunged into a County Championship relegation scrap after they were hit with an eight-point penalty for a ‘substandard’ pitch.
They were also fined £5,000 after being charged with a breach of the ECB’s pitch regulations on June 3 for the surface produced at the Utilita Bowl for the Division One contest against Sussex.
The Cricket Discipline Panel ruling, following a hearing on September 2, has dragged Hampshire into a survival fight: they began this week’s rain-hit return contest versus Sussex in Hove in fifth place, but the sanction has transformed that in real terms to eighth - seven points above the drop zone.
Daily Mail Sport understands that Somerset face a heftier deduction - up to 20 points - for a pitch that Durham honorary president Lord Ian Botham branded ‘appalling.’
Those comments came after 35 wickets fell - 22 of them to spinners - as Somerset defeated Durham inside five sessions.
The investigation into Hampshire included evidence from the match officials of uneven bounce throughout and excessive spin from day two.
Hampshire have been slapped with an eight-point deduction for a 'substandard' pitch - and an even harsher punishment awaits Somerset
Before a ball is bowled… As an ex Somerset player I find this appalling... at a time when County Cricket is under pressure for relevance as a breeding ground for International
Players and Somerset members have apparently voted for the status quo, the club produces this pitch.… pic.twitter.com/qAU0CJbPlf
It concluded that the pitch had started out too dry and not been rolled enough, particularly for one already used during the 2025 season, leading to excessive deterioration around a spinner’s length and crumbling patches where the ball went ‘through the top’ for seamers.
In his evidence, Hampshire coach Adrian Birrell said: ‘We wanted a good cricket pitch that would wear over time…. We thought it would spin through natural wear and tear as opposed to spinning from the outset…. We had the option of playing Felix Organ as a second spinner (he is an off-spinner) and we did not select him. We were not looking for a pitch that spinned excessively from day one.’
Opposite number Paul Farbrace leapt to Hampshire’s defence, saying: ‘It was not in their interest to deliberately plan an uneven pitch, as they have excellent fast bowlers, and would have expected to win with their seam attack. This is not an example of a home side deliberately cheating.’
However, eight points is the mandatory starting point for below average pitches and so Hampshire effectively finished up with -5 for a match they lost by nine wickets before lunch on day three.
