Essex penalized 12 points for using ‘wide bat’

Feroze Khushi (Photo Source: Twitter)

When Feroze Khushi batted in the second innings of Essex’s match against Nottinghamshire in April, the bat failed an on-field dimensions check. Essex won by a score of 254 runs.

Despite having scored 20 points during the game, Khushi’s wider-than-permitted bat has cost Essex 12 of those points. With two games left after the current round of games, Essex is now 56 points behind Division One leaders Surrey as a result of the points deduction.

The Chelmsford club has officially acknowledged the suspension, which was expected for most of the season. There is, however, anger behind the scenes as well. Former Essex and England captain Keith Fletcher, who is currently the club president, told The Times that the choice was “absolutely stupid.”

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On April 6, during Essex’s second innings of their first Championship match against Nottinghamshire, the problem surfaced. When the on-field umpires, Steve O’Shaughnessy and Tom Lungley, discovered that Khushi’s bat had become lodged in their measurement gauge, the 21-year-old was disqualified.

“Essex CCC regrets the outcome and, although disappointed with the appeal decision and subsequent sanctions, accepts the charges of the CDC panel,” a club statement said.

“The club remains fully committed to upholding the integrity of the game and ensuring strict compliance with all relevant regulations moving forward.

With two rounds left, including what should have been a crucial final-round meeting between the two clubs at Chelmsford, Essex leads Surrey by 56 points despite winning the match by a margin of 254 runs. However, they have since dropped 12 of the 20 points they earned from that match.

When the Cricket Regulator first brought up the complaint, Essex filed an appeal. The CDC stated in a 31-page ruling that several of the gauges used to evaluate Khushi’s bat “did not comply precisely with the specifications”.

“In light of the concerns raised during the appeal, the club will be writing to the CDC, Cricket Regulator, and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to formally highlight the matters which arose during the process, such as those raised by the club in relation to the bat gauges. “Essex CCC hopes that these concerns will prompt action to address inconsistencies and enhance the fairness and transparency of future regulatory processes.”

Anu Mohindru KC, the Essex chairman, added: “We appealed the initial judgment and it was supported by the cricket regulator, but the initial decision was upheld.

“Since then, no other bat has been tested. My issue is with the apparatus for testing not being standard. I’m not suggesting we did not fail the final test and I don’t have any criticism of the umpires and match referee but it is not a level playing field if we are all using different gauges. I would like to think we are not being singled out in this matter.”