SOMERSET County Cricket Club has decided not to appeal the decision to deduct the club 12 points for next season's Specsavers County Championship.

The club was handed a deduction of 24 points (12 of which are suspended for two years) last month, after being found guilty of breaching pitch regulations in September's title decider against Essex.

Somerset had 14 days to appeal against the decision, but today's club statement makes it clear that no such appeal is forthcoming.

The statement says: "Somerset County Cricket Club has, after conducting an exhaustive review of the relevant appeal procedures, decided against appealing the decision of the Cricket Discipline Commission Panel; that the pitch for the County Championship match versus Essex on September 23, 2019 was rated as 'Poor' and 'was not the best quality pitch that the Club was able to prepare'.

"This conclusion has been reached because it is clear that, in order to overturn the decision, the club would have to demonstrate conclusively to the panel who originally implemented the sanctions that they had come to the wrong decision.

"Such a heavy burden of proof is extremely difficult for any appellant to discharge.

"The club are very disappointed with the panel’s decision but has concluded that it is in the best interest of all parties to move forward.

"We can now focus on preparing the team and the venue for the demands of the season ahead, with a specific focus on performing successfully, with a highly talented and competitive group of players and a clear focus on developing broader strategies to support this objective through our teams off the field.

"The club notes the strong message the panel ruling sends to all First Class counties."

Somerset begin the next County Championship season against Warwickshire, at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton, on Sunday, April 12, 2020.