Somerset points deduction adjusted in light of change to County Championship format

Having initially been docked 24 points – with 12 suspended – after preparing a pitch that spun extravagantly from early on, that sanction has now been adjusted. Instead, Somerset will begin with an eight-point penalty in the group phase

Somerset’s punishment for breaching ECB pitch regulations during their 2019 County Championship title-decider against Essex has been revised.

The decision follows a request by the county and the ECB in light of the remodelling of English cricket’s red-ball competition for 2021.

Having initially been docked 24 points – with 12 of those suspended – after preparing a pitch that spun extravagantly from early on, that sanction has now been adjusted. Instead, Somerset will begin with an eight-point penalty in the group phase.

Should they commit any further breaches in 2021, a Cricket Discipline Commission panel would then determine how to apply the suspended penalty points.

The deduction was initially handed down for 2020 but, following the circumstances of the shortened season and the decision to pause the County Championship in light of the coronavirus pandemic, the sanction was rolled over until 2021.

Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry said: “Obviously we are pleased that the ECB have taken the decision to amend the sanction proportionately in light of the new structure of the domestic season in 2021.

“We are grateful that we have clarity at this time and with training going exceptionally well so far, everyone associated with the club is looking forward to what will hopefully be another successful year.”

^{Somerset were Bob Willis Trophy runners-up in 2020}

“The club have been in dialogue with the ECB in recent weeks and the talks were constructive throughout,” added Somerset chief executive Gordon Hollins.

“We are pleased that we can now put this matter behind us and focus on the forthcoming season.”

Rather than its traditional two-division structure, this year’s County Championship will feature three conferences, with 10 group matches each followed by four divisional games per county. Somerset have been placed in Group Two, which also includes Hampshire, Surrey, Gloucestershire, Middlesex and Leicestershire.

The winners of Division One will be crowed as County Championship winners, before the top two teams face off for the Bob Willis Trophy.

Somerset were Bob Willis Trophy runners-up in 2020 after drawing the final at Lord’s in September on account of a lower first innings score than Essex.

The previous year, the Taunton side were County Championship runners-up; in the match relating to the points deduction, Somerset and Essex drew in a game affected by poor weather, handing Ryan ten Doeschate’s team the title.