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Kent Penalised 8 Points For Repeated Conduct Breaches In County Championship

Jatin

Kent docked points following umpire [Source: @KentCricket/x.com]Kent docked points following umpire [Source: @KentCricket/x.com]

Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse for Kent in this County Championship season, they have found themselves in deeper waters. Already rooted at the bottom of Division Two, Kent have now been docked eight points after their skipper Daniel Bell-Drummond showed dissent to the umpire during their recent loss to Glamorgan.

Bell-Drummond’s Outburst Costs Kent Big

And with that, the club’s fight to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon has taken a serious hit. It all unfolded in Cardiff during Kent’s clash against Glamorgan. Chasing a tricky total, Daniel Bell-Drummond was adjudged caught behind for 22 in the second innings.

But the skipper didn’t take the decision too kindly. He protested the dismissal on the field and once the Match Referee, Alec Swann, reviewed the incident, the hammer came down hard.

The offence was classified under Level 1(c) of the Professional Conduct Regulations, basically, showing dissent at an umpire’s decision. That fixed penalty meant more than just a slap on the wrist as it became the fourth such incident for Kent this season.

And according to Regulation 4.28, four fixed penalties in a single season means automatic sanctions.

Repeat Offenders Add To The Chaos

Bell-Drummond’s slip-up wasn’t a one-off. Earlier this season, Kent’s Matt Parkinson, Kashif Ali and Tawanda Muyeye had all landed in hot water for similar offences, all within May.

The club’s discipline has gone off the rails and now it is biting them hard in the standings. With just two wins in ten games, Kent were already on shaky ground. Now, with the eight-point penalty, they have fallen 26 points behind Northamptonshire, who sit just one spot above.

In a rare move of acceptance, Kent has decided not to appeal the decision. The club seems to know they have dropped the ball one too many times and now they are paying the price.

Relegation Fears Very Real Now

With only a few matches left in the season and the team struggling to keep their heads above water, the chances of avoiding last place are looking slimmer than ever. The eight-point blow could be the final nail in what has already been a brutal campaign.