The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today announced that the Trent Bridge pitch used for this week's PPP healthcare County Championship match between Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire had been classified as 'poor.'

No points will be deducted from Nottinghamshire as a result of the classification, but any subsequent 'poor' home pitches produced over the next 12 months will result in an automatic 10 point penalty.

The decision was taken last night by an ECB Pitch Panel at the end of the match which Yorkshire won by three wickets. The panel was convened following reports from the umpires at the end of the first day's play and from the ECB Pitches Consultants at the end of the second day's play.

The panel was comprised of Mike Denness, Chairman of the Pitches Advisory Group, David Dunkley, Member of the Pitches Advisory Group and Alan Fordham, ECB Cricket Operations Manager (First Class).

Mike Denness said: ``The panel were unanimous in their decision that the pitch should be classified as poor. We considered that the density of grass was responsible for excessive lateral movement off the seam throughout the game. This therefore did not provide for an even contest between bat and ball, and is thus not conducive to the betterment of First-Class cricket.''

For further information contact:

Andrew Walpole, ECB Media Relations Officer - 0171 4321252