David Lovell hopes to play on Saturday

On Tuesday, 32-year-old Mr Lovell lost his high Court action against the ban - and his job.

Mr Lovell worked in the ITV Digital call centre in Pembroke Dock and the result of his hearing came at the same time as more than 1,000 redundancies were being announced at the centre.

Mr Lovell admitted swearing and making offensive marks, but contested the 18-week ban on the grounds the original disciplinary hearing last September was not fairly held.

But Mr Justice Neuberger, sitting in Haverfordwest County Court, said Mr Lovell had not fully exhausted PCCC's appeals procedure.

Mr Justice Neuberger also ordered Mr Lovell to pay 70% of PCCC's costs, which could amount to several thousands of pounds.

The judge commented that, as a gesture of goodwill, PCCC should allow Mr Lovell to play until an appeal hearing was held.

John Green: waiting game

John Green, secretary of Lamphey CC said: "David is obviously shocked by the decision which has come on top of the news that he will be losing his job.

"We hope that PCCC will take the judge's comments into account.

"We will accept whatever the decision will be as full and binding.

"Both parties shook hands very amicably at the end of proceedings and we hope that we can all get on and just play cricket."

Solicitor Stephen Hill, representing PCCC, said: "The executive committee of PCCC feel vindicated."

Integrity

Lamphey , captained by David Lovell, are due to play Haverfordwest in the first game of the season on Saturday.

Former Derbyshire player Lovell alleged his contribution to Lamphey Cricket Club's success had led to "resentment rather than admiration" from other clubs in the Pembroke cricket league.

The High Court, sitting at Haverfordwest, heard that umpire David Morris had been told "in no uncertain terms where to go" by Mr Lovell in a match against Kilgetty last August.

Pembroke County Cricket Club secretary William Marchant said the club had "integrity" and insisted the original hearing had been fair.

Wisden's 2001 records show Lovell's average of 199.6 runs per game last season was the highest of any cricketer in England and Wales.