Essex’s already slim chances of winning the County Championship title this season have been dashed by a heavy sanction imposed by the Cricket Disciplinary Committee.

Essex County Cricket Club have been hit with a 12-point deduction after their batsman Feroze Khushi was found guilty of using an oversized bat in their opening match of the 2024 County Championship in April.

Cricket Disciplinary Commission severely punishes Essex in 2024 County Championship

The drama unfolded during Essex’s second innings against Nottinghamshire on April 6. Khushi, who was unbeaten on 21, hit a snag when her bat got stuck in the measuring stick used by on-field umpires Tom Lungley and Steve O’Shaughnessy.

However, Essex had won that game by 254 runs against Nottinghamshire, but now the 12-point deduction means they are now 56 points behind Surrey with just two rounds of the season remaining, one of which is a potential final round decider against their arch-rivals in Chelmsford.

In a lengthy 31-page ruling, the Cricket Disciplinary Commission admitted that the Essex club’s appeal against the original charge brought by the Cricket Regulator had some merit.

Several of the gauges used to measure Khushi’s bat did not match the required specifications, leading to the original decision being upheld. With this, Essex’s hopes of challenging for the title are all but over.

Meanwhile, in her statement to the regulator, Khushi explained that she had relied on her bat manufacturer to ensure the equipment complied with MCC regulations, specifically Law 5.7.2, which specifies that the width of a bat must be 10.8cm.

Khushi stated that she had no intention of using a bat that violated the rules, but she still received a reprimand for the situation. Well, the decision of the Cricket Disciplinary Committee generated anger and considerable repercussions in the club.

We hope our concerns will improve the fairness and transparency of future regulatory processes: Essex CCC

The most vocal is Keith Fletcher, chairman of Essex and former England captain, who has called the CDC’s decision “absolutely stupid”. Although the club accepts the sanction, its discontent means the controversy has not gone away.

The club said: “Essex CCC regrets the outcome and, whilst disappointed with the appeal decision and subsequent sanctions, accepts the CDC panel’s findings. The club remains fully committed to upholding the integrity of the game and strictly adhering to all relevant regulations going forward.

In light of the concerns raised during the appeal, the club will write to the CDC, cricket’s governing body and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to formally highlight the issues that arose during the process, such as those raised by the club in relation to bat calibres. “Essex CCC hopes that these concerns will prompt action to address inconsistencies and improve the fairness and transparency of future regulatory processes.”

Anu Mohindru KC, Essex chairman: “My issue is that the testing apparatus is not standard. I am not suggesting that we failed in the final test and I have no criticism of the umpires and match judge, but it is not a level playing field if we are all using different calibres. I would like to think that we are not being singled out in this matter as no bat has been tested since.”