Whittle hit by Lancs ban

OLDHAM cricketer Mel Whittle has been banned from playing for Lancashire over-50s until the end of the 2010 season.

Whittle and Liverpool’s Geoff Blackburn have both received the same punishment for “bad behaviour towards the umpires” in a recent match against Yorkshire, at Formby, when Whittle was controversially run out.

Captain Alan Whiston, the Crompton player, has also been reprimanded by the Lancashire Cricket Board for comments made to the umpires after the match, which Lancashire lost.

Neither Whittle nor Blackburn were given the opportunity to appear before the disciplinary hearing. And the players were told any appeal would not take place until after today’s vital game away to Nottinghamshire, which a depleted Lancs must win to stand a chance of progressing to the last 16 knockout phase of the national over-50s championship.

Andrew Hayhurst, from the Lancashire Cricket Board, confirmed Whittle and Blackburn had been suspended but would not comment further until the appeal is heard next Monday.