County Championship May 7, 2005

Surrey penalised for ball-tampering

Cricinfo staff

Surrey's ignominious performance in the field against Nottinghamshire has been exacerbated by the news that they have been given a five-run penalty for ball-tampering, after an incident that came to light after the first day's play at The Oval.

The match umpires, Mervyn Kitchen and Nigel Llong, revealed that they had taken the overnight decision because of alterations to the condition of the ball. No single player could be singled out, they stressed to reporters at the match, although the pair added that Mark Ramprakash, Surrey's captain, had been warned after 35 overs after it was spotted that the quarter-seam had been lifted.

Llong checked the ball again with five overs of the day remaining and found no further evidence, but when he discovered at the close of play that the condition had altered once again, he reported the matter to the England & Wales Cricket Board. The old ball is now in the possession of the ECB, and Nottinghamshire's batsmen were permitted to chose a new one for the resumption of play. They chose wisely as well, as Stephen Fleming hurtled to a magnificent double-century against a demoralised attack.

Alan Butcher, Surrey's stand-in coach, told the Press Association: "Further to the umpires' ruling and the alteration of the condition of the ball we will co-operate with any inquiry by the ECB. We are conscious of the need to uphold both the spirit and the letter of the laws of cricket." Nottinghamshire's coach, Mick Newell, added: "I thought the umpires got it about right."

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