Sydney Sixers’ English star Tom Curran received a four-game suspension for purportedly intimidating an umpire. The club has promptly declared its intention to challenge this decision.
The pacer was accused of a Level 3 offence according to the Cricket Australia Code of Conduct, stemming from an incident during the match against the Hobart Hurricanes on December 11th.
He was charged with “intimidation or attempted intimidation of an Umpire, Match Referee or Medical Personnel whether by language or conduct (including gestures)”.
The visuals of the incident were shared by Seven (7Cricket) on social platforms.
After Curran practised his run-up from one end, one of the umpires informed the Brit that he couldn't enter the pitch before the match. The umpire then moved onto the pitch himself and gestured for Curran to run alongside him instead.
“You can run here, not here,” the umpire told Curran.
Curran then sprints towards the umpire, almost colliding, but stutters and sidesteps just as the umpire shifts in the opposite direction.
“That is totally and utterly ridiculous,” commentator Jason Richardson said.
“He’s clearly had a brainfade there. You can’t intimidate an umpire like that.”
In a statement, Cricket Australia laid out the findings by Code of Conduct Commissioner Adrian Anderson - which Curran contested.
“Prior to the commencement of the Match Curran completed a practice run up in which he ran onto part of the pitch,” Anderson found.
“Curran was verbally instructed by the Umpire not to run on to the pitch;
“Following this, Curran moved to the opposite end of the pitch to complete another practice run up;
“The Umpire took position next to the stumps, blocking Curran from approaching the pitch and gestured to Curran to move away from the pitch;
“Curran was seen in the footage gesturing to the Umpire to move away from the pitch;
“Curran then attempted to perform a practice run up and run at pace straight towards the Umpire who stood in the bowling crease facing Curran. The Umpire stepped to his right to avoid the risk of collision.”
However, the Sixers and Curran will appeal the decision.
“Tom and the club maintain that Tom did not knowingly or intentionally intimidate a match official, and on legal advice, we will exercise our right to appeal the decision,” Head of Sydney Sixers Rachael Haynes said.
“We will support Tom during this period and look forward to him returning to the field.”