ICC pans Trent Bridge for preparing 'unacceptable' pitch for first England-India Test

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly sent an official warning to Trent Bridge for preparing an unacceptable pitch in last month's first Test between England and India.

The ICC's Pitch Monitoring Service concluded that the pitch failed to provide a fair contest between bat and ball.

The first Test between England and India ended in a draw as the tourists made 457 and 391-9, and England scored 496, with both sides' bowlers struggling on the pitch, The BBC reported.

Trent Bridge's groundsman Steve Birks had previously apologised for the lifeless wicket.

It was for the first time in Test history that during the match both sides had put on a 100-run partnership for the 10th wicket, with the stand of 198 between England's Joe Root and James Anderson setting a new world record.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club have pledged to re-lay the wicket ahead of the next international cricket season, a commitment which the ICC said it took into account.

Trent Bridge is scheduled to host the fourth Ashes Test against Australia in August 2015, the report added.