Panel decides on ban for Foster
ESSEX captain James Foster has received an unprecedented and immediate two-match ban from first-team fixtures after a spate of disciplinary offences at his club.
A discipline commission panel, convened to hear England and Wales Cricket Board charges against Essex, also ruled the club must pay a £5,000 fine after five or more of their players transgressed over the past 12 months.
An ECB policy of fixed-penalty offences regularly results in points being accrued by players – for dissent towards officials or abuse of fixtures and fittings. But yesterday was the first time the panel has been required to rule on whether separate punishment was deemed necessary.