Essex received 12 penalty points for using an oversized stick

In a bizarre turn of events, Essex’s hopes of winning the county championship have been dashed after being deducted 12 points by the Cricket Disciplinary Commission (CDC).

The penalty came after Essex opener Feroze Khushi was found to have used an oversized bat during a match against Nottinghamshire in April, a match which Essex won by 254 runs.

The incident occurred when Khushi’s bat failed an on-field dimensional check during his second over at Trent Bridge, revealing it was wider than the legal size. Despite Essex scoring 20 points in the match, the CDC decision stripped them of 12 of those points, severely damaging their title aspirations.

With Essex now 56 points behind Division One leaders Surrey with just two games remaining, their title hopes have been dealt a serious blow. As well as the points deduction, an independent panel has also imposed a stiff penalty for any future offences, stripping Essex of half of their available match points in any competition if another player commits the same offence in the next two years.

Essex initially appealed the allegation, raising concerns about the compliance of the bat meters used in the measurement process.

Essex’s reaction

The club, in its defence, emphasised that it had been in contact with Khushi cue manufacturer Gray-Nicolls, who had raised concerns about inconsistent thicknesses between the cues. However, the appeal was dismissed and the CDC upheld its original decision.

In a statement, Essex CCC said it was disappointed but accepted the sanctions, while emphasising its commitment to the integrity of the game and strict compliance with the regulations.

“Essex CCC regrets the outcome and, while disappointed by the appeal decision and subsequent sanctions, accepts the CDC’s findings,” the club said in a statement, according to BBC (English)

“The club remains fully committed to maintaining the integrity of the game and ensuring strict compliance with all relevant regulations in the future.”

The club also announced plans to formally address issues raised during the appeal process with the CDC, the Cricket Regulatory Authority and the ECB in the hope that this will encourage the club to take steps to ensure “fairness and transparency” in future regulatory proceedings.

“In light of the concerns raised during the appeal, the club will approach the CDC, the Cricket Regulator and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to formally outline the issues that have arisen during the process, such as those raised by the club in relation to bat gauges.

“Essex CCC hopes that these concerns will prompt action to resolve inconsistencies and enhance the fairness and transparency of future regulatory processes.”