All-arounder Tom Curran of the Sydney Sixers is suspended for four Big Bash League games following
Tom Curran, an all-rounder for the Sydney Sixers, got into a fight with an umpire before the team’s December 11 game against the Hobart Hurricanes at the North Tasmania Cricket Association Ground in Launceston. As a result, Curran received a four-match suspension.
The Englishman is accused of “intimidation or attempted intimidation of an umpire, match referee, or medical personnel whether by language or conduct (including gestures) during a match” under Article 2.17 of the code of conduct, which was observed by match referee Bob Perry.
Cricket Australia (CA) released a statement saying that Curran was going through his pre-match routine and doing practice run-ups on the field when the event happened. Curran received a warning from the contest’s fourth umpire, who was positioned beside the pitch to supervise play. The athlete then took his practice run-ups to the other end of the field.
The fourth umpire, not pleased with Curran’s reaction, eventually stopped him in his tracks and asked him not to run on the field once more. The umpire had to move to his right in order to avoid a collision as the all-rounder ran straight towards him while gesturing for the official to move aside.
Curran was prevented from entering the field by the umpire, who stood near the stumps and motioned for him to leave the field. In the video, Curran could be seen motioning for the umpire to get off the field. Curran then tried to run straight towards the umpire, who was standing in the bowling crease facing him, as part of a practice run-up. According to the statement from CA, the umpire moved to his right to reduce the chance of a collision.
The Sydney Sixers want to challenge Tom Curran’s judgment.
Tom Curran attempted to appeal the ruling when the match referee charged him, but the guilty finding with four punishment points remained in effect.
The Sydney Sixers will now file an appeal of the ruling, with Rachael Haynes, the team’s executive director, strongly supporting the athlete.
“Tom and the club insist that Tom did not purposefully or knowingly threaten a match official, and we will use our legal counsel to challenge the ruling. “We are excited to see Tom back on the field and will provide him with support during this time,” Haynes stated.
The Englishman will miss the following series of games against the Adelaide Strikers (December 22), Melbourne Stars (December 26), Sydney Thunder (December 30), and Brisbane Heat (January 1) if the Sixers’ attempt to overturn the decision fails.
As per the guidelines, section 67.3 of the BBL|13 playing conditions explicitly stipulates that only the head coach and the captain are allowed on the pitch’s premises to evaluate its conditions. Spike shoes are not allowed to prevent any harm from being done to the surface.
In the current Big Bash League (BBL) season, there has already been one pitch-related incident. At Simonds Stadium in Geelong, the match between the Perth Scorchers and the Melbourne Renegades was called off because of a subpar surface.
