Colly handed four-match ban

Pays the price for England's slow over-rate at the Oval

Last updated: 26th June 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Colly handed four-match ban

Collingwood: four-match ban

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England captain Paul Collingwood has been banned for four one-day internationals for his side's slow over-rate during Wednesday's defeat to New Zealand at the Oval.

Collingwood, 32, will miss the NatWest Series finale on Saturday against the Black Caps, a one-day international against Scotland (Aug 18), the one-off Twenty20 international against South Africa (Aug 20) and the first one-dayer against South Africa (Aug 22).

He was found guilty at a post-match hearing attended by the two on-field umpires Steve Davis and Mark Benson, television umpire Richard Kettleborough and fourth official Peter Hartley, as well as England manager Phil Neale and coach Peter Moores.

It is the second time that Collingwood has fallen foul of the International Cricket Council's over-rate regulations, having been fined 50 percent of his match fee after the one-dayer against India at Bristol last August.

Repeat offender

That means the latest charge was elevated from a level two offence to level three, which carries a minimum ban of four one-day internationals or two Tests - or a combination on the two.

The punishment was confirmed on Thursday afternoon by ICC match referee Javagal Srinath and, in addition to Collingwood's spell on the sidelines, England's other 10 players have all been fined 15 percent of their match fees.

"There is always a scheduled finish time and it is always very clear to the management teams, the match officials and the captain," Srinath told Sky Sports News.

"That's a good practice always, people (spectators) are waiting so the game has to finish on time.

"If they tell us a proper reason for a delay, we will listen. But if there is slow movement of the players on the field, we have to act."

Collingwood does not intend to exercise his right to appeal and, as there is no official vice-captain in the one-day squad, England will have to appoint a stand-in skipper to cover the ban.

Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen appear the most likely candidates from within the current squad, while Andrew Strauss - who has been with the team as injury cover during the New Zealand series - is another possibility, having done the job with some success in the past.

It was a bad day all-round for Collingwood on Wednesday as England slipped to defeat off the last ball at the Oval to leave themselves 2-1 down heading into the series decider.

Controversy

He was also at the centre of controversy for his decision to uphold England's appeal for the run out of Grant Elliott during New Zealand's run chase.

Elliott was barged to ground by Ryan Sidebottom who was attempting to field the ball in his follow-through and, as the all-rounder lay stricken on the turf, Ian Bell scooped up the ball and threw to Kevin Pietersen at the non-striker's end, who removed the bails.

After a discussion with umpire Benson, Collingwood decided to send Elliott on his way, a decision that did not go down well in the New Zealand dressing room.

The fact that the Black Caps went on to win the game, coupled with Collingwood's post-match apology for his lapse in judgement, appeared to calm the tensions between the two sets of players.