Tamper scandal rocks Kooka

Coast cricket rocked by ball-tampering ban

THE Kookaburra Cup has been rocked by a ball-tampering scandal, with a key member of Burleigh’s premiership defence suspended for six weeks by Cricket Gold Coast.

Less than 12 months after Australian cricket was plunged into controversy in Cape Town, ball-tampering has reared its ugly head on the Coast after Burleigh’s defeat of Broadbeach Robina earlier this month.

The player, who the Bulletin has chosen not to name, is understood to have inflicted further, “significant” damage to the ball after it was hit into the Aussie Rules dugouts at Crowe Howarth Oval on February 2.

The player, one of the stars of Burleigh’s charge to the competition lead, was then stood down from the Bullsharks’ ongoing fixture against Mudgeeraba Nerang and has now been handed a further four weeks.

The six-week ban is the maximum for a Level 2 offence. He has also been given a 12-week suspended sentence and ordered by the club to assist with junior coaching and umpiring.

“It’s been dealt with,” CGC president Dean Johnson said.

“We referred (the case) to Queensland Cricket because it’s something we haven’t dealt with before. They agreed it was a Level 2 offence with a suspension period of anywhere between two and six weeks.

“I dare say we are probably going to have a look at the level (of offence for ball tampering)

at the end of the season because it is a serious offence. He could well have got a lot more if it was a higher offence.

“The two umpires who were officiating ... well done on picking it up. I’m sure the club is (ready to move on), the player is and the board is.”

The player will miss Burleigh’s last two fixtures against Palm Beach Currumbin and Alberton Ormeau, but will be eligible to play finals.

Bullsharks president Steve Miller said the length of suspension was “solid but fair”.

“He made (the ball) a lot worse to the point it wasn’t legal anymore. The umpires were good, they reacted straight away,” Miller said.

“We will get (the player) to do some coaching and umpiring and he’s going to have meetings with players to bring him up to speed on the Code of Behaviour.

“We know there’s going to be some flack out there. We know the opposition will bring it up out on the paddock and we’re prepared for that.”

Having already qualified for the finals, Burleigh will be chasing Mudgeeraba Nerang’s 9-255 at Nerang RSL today.

THE Kookaburra Cup has been stunned by a ball-tampering scandal, with a key member of Burleigh’s premiership defence suspended for six weeks by Cricket Gold Coast.

Less than 12 months after Australian cricket was plunged into controversy in Cape Town, balltampering has reared its ugly head on the Coast after Burleigh’s defeat of Broadbeach Robina earlier this month.

The player, who the Bulletin has chosen not to name, is understood to have inflicted further “significant” damage to the ball after it was hit into the Aussie Rules dugouts at Crowe Howarth Oval on February 2.

The player, one of the stars of Burleigh’s charge to the competition lead, has been stood down from the Bullsharks’ ongoing fixture against Mudgeeraba Nerang and has now been handed a further four weeks.