ENGLAND DOMESTIC CRICKET
Salt’s bat did not pass through the gauge on the field initially © Getty
Lancashire County Cricket Club (LCCC) has confirmed that Phil Salt has been cleared of any breach of the ECB’s Anti-Corruption Code. The allegations related to a potential breach of ECB Directives 3.2 and 3.3, after Salt’s bat failed an on-field bat-gauge test during a Vitality Blast fixture.
Salt maintained that the bat in question – one he has used consistently over the past two years for England, Lancashire, and in the IPL – had never previously raised any concerns. On Tuesday, the Cricket Regulator’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) officially cleared him of any wrongdoing.
LCCC has confirmed that the bat used by Phil Salt during Friday evening’s match against the Northamptonshire Steelbacks has been cleared by the ACU.
During the first over of Lancashire Lightning’s run chase, an umpire conducted an on-field gauge test of the bat, as part of an assurance process undertaken to check the sizes of a bat being used. To pass the test, the bat must fit through a gauge of the specified size.
Salt’s bat did not pass through the gauge on the field and was therefore deemed to have failed the test. In further tests carried out after the match, it was deemed inconclusive despite the bat fitting through the gauge on several occasions. The Club and player felt this should have been the end of the matter, but the officials felt it necessary for the bat to be taken away for further testing.
“At Lancashire, we believe this whole process could have been avoided with improved processes on and off the field, whether that be through better equipment and or additional training. Following the incident there have been inappropriate comments made by match commentators, inaccurate articles written in the media and some unsavoury social media posts towards the player that could have been avoided,” LCCC said in a statement..
Following this evidential testing process undertaken by the Cricket Regulator, the bat was found to be compliant with the Regulations – and the Club and player have been informed that no further action will be taken.
© Cricbuzz
