Essex’s chances of winning the County Championship have all but evaporated after the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) docked the team 12 points due to one of their players, Feroze Khushi, using an oversised bat. The violation occurred during Essex's second innings in their April match against Nottinghamshire, a game they won by 254 runs.
Khushi's bat was found to exceed the permitted dimensions during an on-field check, leading to the penalty. Essex originally earned 20 points from the match but now have 12 of those points deducted, leaving them 56 points behind current Division One leaders Surrey, with only two matches remaining after the current round.
The CDC’s independent panel also ruled that Essex will face a deduction of half the available points in any competition if a similar infraction occurs within the next two years.
Essex appealed the original charge, raising concerns about the accuracy of bat gauges. However, the appeal was rejected. The club also consulted Gray-Nicolls, Khushi's bat manufacturer, who themselves expressed concern over inconsistencies in bat gauge measurements.
Khushi admitted to the panel that he hadn’t personally checked his bats for regulation compliance before the 2024 season, instead relying on his manufacturer to supply conforming equipment. The 25-year-old, who received a reprimand, stated that there was no intention to use a non-conforming bat.
In response to the ruling, Essex expressed disappointment but accepted the CDC’s decision. In a statement, the club reiterated their commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sport and adhering to all relevant regulations. They also announced plans to formally raise concerns with the CDC, Cricket Regulator, and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) regarding the inconsistencies in bat gauge measurements that surfaced during the appeal process.
This isn’t the first time such an incident has occurred in cricket. In 2022, Durham’s Nic Maddinson received a 10-point penalty for using an oversised bat, and Derbyshire was docked two points in the One-Day Cup after Mattie McKiernan’s bat failed to meet size regulations.
Essex now faces an uphill battle in their remaining fixtures, with their County Championship hopes fading quickly.