A DAY’S county cricket at The Mote in Maidstone has been wiped off the calendar for the foreseeable future after Kent admitted they will not be hosting matches at the historic ground next summer.

The county have been playing at The Mote since 1859, but this year’s controversial clash with Gloucestershire and the 'tired' nature of The Mote square has cast doubts over the ground’s suitability for first-class cricket.

Kent were docked eight championship points following the rain-affected game there in June when a three-man ECB pitch panel deemed the pitch unsatisfactory for four-day cricket after a match that had barely lasted two.

ECB pitches consultant Chris Wood and Kent’s head groundsman Mike Grantham subsequently visited to The Mote to take soil samples for analysis, which has prompted a request from Kent for at least two of the Motes’ wickets to be re-surfaced.

Commenting on the decision, The Mote’s acting chairman and Tenterden-based solicitor Mr Malcolm Bassett, said: "The way I see it is that the ECB would not sanction a game at The Mote next year, so we will have to look at the square and see what can be done.

"I don’t think there is any intention on Kent’s part to make this a long-term absence and part of our whole rationale of the improvement package at The Mote is to make it attractive to first-class cricket and that is our long term aim.

"We just have this pitch problem as a short term difficulty."

In confirming the county club’s stance, Kent’s Paul Millman said: "Recommendations have been made to The Mote but I don’t think these are radical changes and when we are confident the pitches there are capable of staging county cricket we will go back.

"We have been going to The Mote for over 150 years and it isn’t a place we walk away from lightly, but we have to have confidence in the prime piece of the facility i.e. the pitch.

"I think for Kent to have a cricketing centre of excellence at the Mote and in the county town is vital, so we are right behind and very much committed to ground improvements and the redevelopment plans."

It is hoped the decision will not have any repercussions on The Mote Cricket Club’s plans to re-develop the ground in tandem with local developers Hillreed Homes.

Only four months ago The Mote and Hillreed launched ambitious plans for a multi-sports centre and pavilion at the ground to be funded by developing a crescent of new homes on the club’s 3rd team ground adjacent to Willow Way.