sport, local-sport,

Border cricket has handed down two of its biggest suspensions of the modern era. Eskdale batsman Jye Hodgkin and Yackandandah fielder Daniel Atwell have been banned until January 1, 2018, effectively half-a-season. Yackandandah paceman Mick Walker received a four-match suspended sentence, which extends until the end of the 2017-18 season. He is eligible to play though in this weekend’s home preliminary final against Kiewa. “It’s something we don’t like to see happen in cricket, and certainly when it’s your club,” Yackandandah president Reon Garvey said. “It’s not a good look and certainly (we) don’t condone their actions. “But in the heat of the moment it’s probably reactionary I would have thought, still, by the same token, that doesn’t excuse what’s gone on.” The incident occurred early in Eskdale’s innings. The underdog had earlier ripped through Yackandandah for only 137, and was cruising at 0-34. Walker bowled Hodgkin and as he ran down the wicket near the batsman, Hodgkin bumped him with his right shoulder, sending the quick to the ground. Atwell immediately pushed Hodgkin to the ground, and on two other occasions pushed him as he tried to rise, before his team-mates intervened. Nobody was injured. “You’re never happy when you go out and for someone to run, I guess, in your vicinity when you’re a bit upset and you can kind of just have a bit of a brain fade,” Eskdale president Joel Parsons said. The clubs can appeal the decisions to North East Region 6, and both will meet after training on Thursday night to further discuss the bans. Both clubs also said they wouldn’t take further action against their players. CAW chairman Michael Erdeljac says the seriousness of the incident fast-tracked the matter. “Under the Code of Conduct rules an investigations panel has the right to lay a charge or charges against any player reported and impose a penalty,” he said. “Mick Walker had received a warning from the umpire from the previous over for improper conduct, but he wasn’t reported by the umpire and therefore not charged. “Both Jye and Daniel were reported and charged with bringing the game into disrepute. “The simple message out of this is cricket has an etiquette and we are here to play a sport. “When you play cricket you are supposed to be gentlemen.” It’s believed none of the players had previously been suspended from CAW. Atwell will be a massive loss for the Kangaroos as he’s taken 17 wickets in only five games at 9.29.

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