Somerset’s push for the County Championship title has taken a small hit after the ECB confirmed a four-point deduction for the surface used against Durham in July. Thirty-five wickets tumbled in just five sessions of that match, prompting match referee Simon Hink to file a “below average” report and triggering a formal investigation.
The sanction, announced by the Cricket Discipline Panel (CDP), removes four points immediately and parks another four on the shelf, suspended until the end of the 2027 season. Somerset slip from 179 to 175 points but stay third in Division One, so the punishment is awkward rather than disastrous.
How did it get to this?
Lord Ian Botham, Durham’s honorary president and never shy of a quote, declared the strip “reduces the game to a farce”. Standing umpires Ian Blackwell and Martin Saggers also noted sharp turn from the first hour. Regulation 4.1 of the ECB’s Pitch Regulations says counties must provide “an even contest between bat and ball”, something the panel felt Taunton did not quite manage on that July morning.
The CDP’s written reasons accept the pitch spun too much too early yet stop short of accusing Somerset grounds staff of anything under-hand. They called it “inherently unlikely” the home side would cook up a minefield then choose to bowl first, leaving their own batters last on what proved to be the toughest track of the summer.
Jamie Cox, Somerset’s chief executive, said: “Whilst we are disappointed by the outcome, we are pleased that the tribunal rejected any suggestion that the Club deliberately sought to produce a substandard wicket.” He added that Somerset “will always aspire to produce the best possible pitches which will ensure an enthralling contest between bat and ball.”
Mitigating notes and future tweaks
Taunton has long been known for spin-friendly soil, but this is the club’s first sub-standard rating in two years. In mitigation, Somerset provided evidence of ongoing trials with alternative loam and have shared data with the ECB’s pitch advisory group. The panel gave credit for that proactive approach, hence the partially suspended sentence.
Alex Lees, who captained Durham in the match, admitted afterwards that batting felt like a lottery. “You never felt properly in on that surface,” he told local radio, “though you could still score if you took a chance.” His side were bowled out twice inside 79 overs; Somerset chased 128 to win by five wickets.
What the deduction means on the table
The four-point cut does not change the narrative of Somerset’s season but narrows their margin for error in the final fortnight. They remain mathematically in the hunt, yet now need a slip from leaders Surrey and near-perfect cricket of their own.
Perspective, though, matters. Championship penalties are rare, and an eight-point ceiling (with half suspended) suggests the system believes education rather than punishment will fix the issue. If the club’s soil experiments bear fruit, this may prove a one-off blemish rather than a lingering stigma.
Either way, Taunton will be under the microscope when the 2026 fixtures roll round, and nobody—Somerset least of all—wants another week dominated by talk of tribunals rather than cricket.
