Northants have gained a 'poor' rating for the pitch they used during the Twenty20 match against Somerset on June 29.

An ECB pitch panel comprising of pitch liaision officers, Tony Pigott and David Hughes, was convened following the umpires report. After considering the pitch reports and interviewing the captain and coach of both teams, and the Northamptonshire Head Groundsman, the pitch panel upheld the umpires�.. decision that the pitch had demonstrated excessive turn and should therefore be rated �..poor�.�.

As a consequence, Northamptonshire are on notice that any subsequent one-day pitch marked �..poor�.� within 12-months of June 29 will be subject to the following penalty:

If the subsequent �..poor�.� pitch is in the Trophy, the Pro40 League or the group stages of the Twenty20 Cup, then one point shall be deducted from Northamptonshire�..s total in that season�..s competition.

If the subsequent �..poor�.� pitch is in a Twenty20 Cup quarter-final, then Northamptonshire will concede home advantage in the Twenty20 Cup quarter-final round of the subsequent season.