Surrey probe into ball-tampering

Surrey have launched their own investigation into the ball-tampering incident that has added shame to the county's shocking early season form

.The England Cricket Board will decide this week whether to hold a full-scale hearing.

But discipline committee chief Gerard Elias may bide his time following Surrey's public promise to do "everything we can" to find the culprit and agree any punishment with Lord's.

Surrey chief executive Paul Sheldon has already apologised and expressed his "grave disappointment" once the team were found guilty of twice illegally altering the condition of the ball during the home championship match against Nottinghamshire. Umpires Merv Kitchen and Nigel Llong first gave Surrey a warning during Friday's play and then, after finding one of the ball's seams had been lifted a second time, they imposed a five-run penalty.

Kitchen and Llong could not identify the culprit or culprits. But Sheldon is determined to. Micky Stewart, the former Surrey and England coach who now chairs the county's cricket committee, has been put in charge of an internal inquiry.

Sheldon said: "We've got to investigate it quickly, deal with the problem and make sure it doesn't happen again. I'm sure we'll agree with the ECB what the action will be. It must be tough and set an example."

Not that the ball-tampering did much to improve Surrey's position or end their wretched start to the season.

Having themselves been bowled out for 217, they saw Notts reach 204 for two by the end of the first day's play - a total that was increased overnight to 209 by the five-run 'fine'.

Surrey were expected to start well this season. Instead, they've been hammered in all three of their one-day league matches, were beaten by the students from Bradford and Leeds and are expected to lose today.