Middlesex to appeal against relegation from County Championship Division One

Middlesex are to appeal to the ECB against their relegation from County Championship Division One after a controversial points deduction cost the club a place in the top tier of domestic cricket.

Last year's champions were relegated to Division Two on Thursday after a final day 231-run defeat to Somerset left the club second bottom of the table at the end of the season.

Middlesex ended the campaign one point behind Somerset and two points behind Hampshire and Yorkshire in the final standings.

However, Middlesex are to request a hearing with the ECB in relation to the two-point deduction handed down to the club for a slow over rate in a draw against Surrey at The Oval in August.

The match ended as a draw after being abandoned when a crossbow bolt landed on the field midway through Middlesex's second innings.

Middlesex argue that the abandonment denied them the chance to improve their over-rate, and that the crucial two-point deduction was unfair considering the extraordinary circumstances.

"We feel that what has happened to us is unjust," Middlesex's chief executive, Richard Goatley, told ESPNcricinfo.

"We feel we have an extremely strong case for having those points reinstated and my role, as chief executive, is to make that case on behalf of the club and our supporters to the ECB.

"We will write to the ECB and ask for a hearing. We are not asking to have any points deducted from another team, just for points that we have previously won to be reinstated. We are the team that scored more points."

Should the two-point deduction be revoked, Somerset would drop down to County Championship Division Two, and Michael Atherton believes Middlesex have a strong case for appeal.

"Middlesex were docked two points for a slow over rate which I think is wrong and in the end cost them relegation," he said.

"With those two points I think they will have been almost fourth in the County Championship. I'm amazed that it has stood."