DERBYSHIRE were on the receiving end yesterday as Gloucestershire escaped without punishment for their latest gamble with the pitches at their Bristol base.

On the toss of a coin, Derbyshire were made to face the more demanding of the conditions on a green seamer and were bowled out for 44 in less than 17 overs.

A total of 24 wickets fell on the first day – the third time this season that 20-plus wickets have tumbled at the beginning of a four-day match at Nevil Road.

After that early collapse, the England and Wales Cricket Board sent one of their pitch liaison officers, John Jameson, to take a look but by the time he arrived at tea, the pitch had dried in the afternoon sun and, after consultation with the umpires, he decided there was no need to report Gloucestershire for a possible points penalty.

"The umpires said the ball swung and the odd one seamed but nothing out of the ordinary," said Jameson. "From what I've seen this afternoon, there's nothing wrong with it."

But Derbyshire head of cricket John Morris said he thought preparing such a surface was not good for the first-class game.

"It's not a dangerous pitch," he said. "First and foremost, it's not going to hurt anybody but my view is that it was too lively this morning and there was too much movement.

"Whoever won the toss was going to bowl first and the advantage was with that team for the rest of the game. We lost the toss and we got skittled out.

"I have no problem with preparing a four-day pitch with a result in mind but I like to see a balance between bat and ball. If anything, I do like to see the balance towards the ball because I think it makes for better cricket but today I thought the balance was too much towards the ball.

"It could have been the opposite way around and we'd have been in a position to win the game. I'm not saying it would have been because they bowled well, credit to them, and put us under pressure – with the help of the pitch.

"When you lose 24 wickets in the day, you are not telling me it is all bad batting.

"They've had three games here this year where a minimum of 20 wickets have fallen on the first day, so they know what they are doing with their pitches and they know what to do if they win the toss.

"I don't see that as the right way to play."