Cricket: Trent Bridge pitch investigated

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ARE facing the possibility of a heavy fine or points deduction over the state of their Trent Bridge pitch.

Harry Brind and Chris Wood, the England and Wales Cricket Board pitches consultants, took in the second day of the match against Yorkshire after 17 wickets had tumbled on the opening day.

They have recommended that an ECB pitches panel, consisting of the former England captain Mike Denness, David Dunkley and Alan Fordham, will be convened today.

On the field Richard Blakey guided Yorkshire to an unexpected one-run first-innings lead. The wicketkeeper hit six fours in his 60 and put on 29 for the ninth-wicket with Ian Fisher (14) and 42 for the last with Paul Hutchison (2no).

Nottinghamshire lost Usman Afzaal without scoring and they had reached 6 for 1 when steady rain set in to wash out the final 57 overs of the day.

Gloucestershire are releasing five players - Bobby Dawson, Nick Trainor, Matt Church, Mark Coombes and Paul Lazenbury - at the end of this season.

Kent have extended the contract of their coach John Wright for another year, making 2000 the fourth season with the county for the former New Zealand Test captain.