Worcestershire Receives Suspended Points Deduction for Illegal Bat Use
Worcestershire County Cricket Club has received a suspended two-point deduction for the upcoming Vitality Blast season after their all-rounder, Josh Cobb, was found to have used an illegally-sized bat during a match against Durham in July.
Cobb admitted to breaching ECB Directives 3.2 and 3.3 after his bat failed a bat-gauge test during the match. The Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) adjudicator initially imposed a straight points deduction, but this was amended on appeal to a suspended penalty, which will be imposed if Worcestershire commits a further breach of this nature.
This is the second such penalty to be leveled in county cricket this summer, following the 12-point deduction that Essex received in the County Championship after Feroz Khushi breached the regulations during their opening fixture of the season.
Worcestershire expressed dismay at the original verdict, arguing that the loss of two points could significantly impact their chances of reaching the Vitality Blast knockouts. The club’s appeal highlighted the potential financial and sporting consequences of the penalty.
In response, the adjudicator, Chris Tickle, reviewed his decision and imposed a suspended penalty instead. Interim Director of the Cricket Regulator, Dave Lewis, welcomed the collaboration between Worcestershire CCC, the CDC, and the Cricket Regulator in reaching this outcome.
The Cricket Regulator emphasized the importance of educating participants and preventing future breaches of bat size regulations. The independent body enforces the rules for domestic professional cricket and investigates and prosecutes cases, while the CDC adjudicates on breaches and issues penalties.