Banks tampered with the ball three times in one over

Somerset all-rounder Omari Banks has been suspended for ball tampering.

The West Indian was caught altering the condition of the ball while he was fielding at mid-wicket in a Second XI match against Essex on 1 July.

Banks, 26, is banned until 20 July and will miss the County Championship game against Hampshire and the opening Pro40 match at Nottinghamshire.

Somerset have lost the points earned from the drawn match and have been fined £500 for the incident.

The umpire's suspicions were initially raised when the ball began to swing unexpectedly and he then saw Banks, who has played international cricket for the West Indies, using his thumb and fingernails to tamper with the ball.

He informed the player he would be reported and awarded five penalty runs to Essex.

Banks expressed deep regret for his actions, which he claimed to a hearing of the Cricket Disciplinary Commission were because of boredom.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version