Cricket

Worcestershire County Cricket Club has received a suspended two-point deduction for the upcoming Vitality Blast season after their all-rounder, Josh Cobb, was found to have used an illegally-sized bat during a match against Durham in July.Cobb admitted to breaching ECB Directives 3.2 and 3.3 after his bat failed a bat-gauge test during the match. The Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) adjudicator initially imposed a straight points deduction, but this was amended on appeal to a suspended penalty, which will be imposed if Worcestershire commits a further breach of this nature.This is the second such penalty to be leveled in county cricket this summer, following the 12-point deduction that Essex received in the County Championship after Feroz Khushi breached the regulations during their opening fixture of the season.Worcestershire expressed dismay at the original verdict, arguing that the loss of two points could significantly impact their chances of reaching the Vitality Blast knockouts. The club's appeal highlighted the potential financial and sporting consequences of the penalty.In response, the adjudicator, Chris Tickle, reviewed his decision and imposed a suspended penalty instead. Interim Director of the Cricket Regulator, Dave Lewis, welcomed the collaboration between Worcestershire CCC, the CDC, and the Cricket Regulator in reaching this outcome.The Cricket Regulator emphasized the importance of educating participants and preventing future breaches of bat size regulations. The independent body enforces the rules for domestic professional cricket and investigates and prosecutes cases, while the CDC adjudicates on breaches and issues penalties.

Middlesex County Cricket Club's off-field woes have escalated with the club facing charges from the Cricket Regulator for breaching ECB Directive 3.3. The charge stems from allegations of inappropriate behavior by the club's chief financial officer, Illa Sharma.The Cricket Regulator has not named the employee in question, but Middlesex acknowledged Sharma's conduct was under investigation in a recent statement. The Telegraph reported that around 30 current and former Middlesex staff members had been interviewed by the Regulator regarding the charge, which centers on a specific complaint from two years ago.Two former club employees claimed to have suffered mental health issues due to the alleged misconduct, while others spoke out about a "bullying culture" within the club.The Cricket Regulator confirmed the charge in a statement, stating that it followed an investigation into an allegation of misconduct by a club employee. The Regulator emphasized that it would not identify the individual concerned.ECB Directive 3.3 pertains to conduct that is improper or prejudicial to the interests of cricket. The charge will be considered by the independent Cricket Discipline Commission, and no further comment will be made until the case is concluded.This saga adds to Middlesex's recent troubles. The club has been embroiled in a dispute with its former CEO, Richard Goatley, and was placed in special measures by the ECB last year due to a pension payment error that resulted in a £500,000 shortfall and a registered loss of £952,000 for the 2021-22 season.

Brydon Carse, the Durham and England fast bowler, has been handed a three-month ban after an anti-corruption investigation by the newly formed Cricket Regulator. The ban, which was accepted by Carse, stems from 303 bets placed on various cricket matches between 2017 and 2019.Carse, who has represented England in 17 limited-overs internationals, did not bet on games he was playing in. However, according to a report in the Telegraph, he did place money on Durham games.The ECB, in a statement, said: "We take these matters extremely seriously and do not condone any form of anti-corruption breach in cricket."The statement continued: "We support the Cricket Regulator's decision and their consideration of the mitigating factors in Brydon's case. He has co-operated and shown remorse for his actions. We are satisfied that Brydon has shown growth in the five years since this breach and has demonstrated a greater understanding of his responsibilities.""We are hopeful that his case can serve as an educational example for other cricketers."Carse, 28, was called up to England's squad for the 50-over World Cup in India last year and was given a two-year deal in the ECB's last round of central contracts.Although he has yet to be involved in the Test set-up, he was part of the group of seam bowlers namechecked by Rob Key last year as central to England's planning across formats, with the retirements of James Anderson and Stuart Broad set to create greater opportunities in red-ball cricket.Dave Lewis, the Cricket Regulator's interim director, said: "The Cricket Regulator takes any breach of integrity or misconduct rules seriously and I would encourage any participant, from within the professional game, who has gambled on cricket to come forward and not wait to be discovered.""The Cricket Regulator understands the many challenges participants can face and will handle cases fairly, with understanding and support for anyone who wishes to come forward. We also encourage any participant struggling with any welfare concerns to seek assistance from the PCA or other trusted professional source."