England cricketer banned for hitting on-field umpire

Jason Ford, an England cricketer, was slapped with a 17-match ban after he was found guilty of physically abusing the on-field umpire during a local match in Hampshire Cricket League between Fawley and Hythe on July 17.

Jason Ford, an England cricketer, was slapped with a 17-match ban after he was found guilty of physically abusing the on-field umpire during a local match in Hampshire Cricket League between Fawley and Hythe on July 17.

The punishment of barring Ford for 17 matches, which effectively rules him out from the entire season, was revealed by the Hampshire League disciplinary committee on Sunday, more than a month after the incident.

Ford, the Fawley Cricket Club player allegedly headbutted the on-field umpire, who was actually a member of their opponents after being denied an LBW appeal. According to reports, the umpires lost a tooth and police had to be called in to stop the rampaging players.

Ford’s clear track record saved him from getting a life ban, cleared the League chairman Denis Emery. "He had never been in trouble before. If he had he would have received a lifetime ban - and quite rightly so," Emery told Dailyecho, a UK based website.

In a statement issued a few days later Chris Tona, chairman of Fawley Cricket Club, said: "The individual involved was immediately suspended by the committee pending a full disciplinary meeting.

"The club have contacted the Hampshire Cricket League chairman to report the incident and are working on providing an accurate statement of events to the League Disciplinary Committee.

"The club cannot comment any further while there is an ongoing police investigation."