Lancashire say they are “frustrated” with the way illegal-bat checks are carried out after Phil Salt was cleared of any offence during last week’s T20 Blast win over Northamptonshire.
Umpires Rob Bailey and Simon Widdup asked Salt to pass his bat through a gauge part-way through Friday night’s game at Old Trafford. The blade stuck and, under ECB Directives 3.2 and 3.3, the opener was reported on the spot. Post-match tests, however, produced mixed results, and a further inspection supervised by the Cricket Regulator has since confirmed the bat meets the size limits. No disciplinary steps will follow.
Salt, who struck 80 from 57 balls as Lancashire chased 159 with five wickets in hand, never looked overly concerned. The bat in question, he later pointed out, has “for the last two years for England, Lancashire and in the IPL with no issue”.
Even so, the county is unhappy with what it feels was an avoidable saga. “At Lancashire, we believe this whole process could have been avoided with improved processes on and off the field, whether that be through better equipment and or additional training,” the club said. “Following the incident there have been inappropriate comments made by match commentators, inaccurate articles written in the media and some unsavoury social media posts towards the player, that could have been avoided.”
The same statement added: “Following this evidential testing process undertaken by the Cricket Regulator, the bat was found to be compliant with the Regulations – and the Club and player have been informed that no further action will be taken.”
The Regulator, while drawing a line under the matter, backed Bailey and Widdup. It noted that the officials “performed their roles fully in compliance with the regulations” and thanked both Lancashire and Salt for their co-operation. “The Regulator also acknowledges the cooperation provided by Lancashire and the player in this matter,” it concluded.
Bat measurements have become a hotter topic since Essex lost 12 Championship points last season when Feroz Khushi’s blade failed a post-match check. That deduction effectively cost Essex a tilt at the title, so counties are understandably twitchy. Lancashire’s gripe is less about the law itself than the in-game tools used to enforce it – slightly uneven gauges and a rushed middle-overs check can, they argue, make everyone look bad.
For now the points stay on the board, Salt keeps his runs, and the bat remains in his kit bag. But the club clearly wants clearer, calmer procedures before the Blast reaches its business end.
