Northants were docked points for having the temerity to produce a pitch that actually allowed spinners to get some turn the other year... so pitch inspectors seem to be able to deem playing surfaces unfit for cricket even when they are ideal for cricket. Given a pitch that was (by all accounts) more like a road than a cricket pitch.... one would have thought the scope for action was adequate.

Sadly, the myopic ***** at the ECB seem to think any tin-pot batsman ought to be able to score runs (even if he has no clue against the turning ball)... but have no problem if extremely competent bowlers are presented with no chance whatsoever.

Someday, someone should point out to the bean-counters that bowling (at least spin and swing bowling) is by some margin the most interesting part of the game