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Cricket

Ramprakash banned for two matches

06/10/2008

Surrey batsman Mark Ramprakash will miss the opening two matches of the County Championship next season for swearing at an umpire.

The 39-year-old former England star pleaded guilty after he was charged with using crude language during a game between Sussex and Surrey in August. Ramprakash, who was captaining his county during the game, has also been fined £1,500 and will have to pay costs of £1,000.

Ramprakash got into an on-field argument with Sussex batsman Murray Goodwin and had to be restrained by the umpires. He apologised to the umpires after the incident, but an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) disciplinary panel still decided to punish him.

"In imposing this penalty, the panel took into account that Ramprakash was captain at the time of the incident, his previous good character, and the facts that he was contrite, had unreservedly apologised to the umpires and had already been fined £1,000 by Surrey County Cricket Club," the ECB said in a statement.

The incident put a black mark over another memorable season for the Surrey run-scoring machine. The veteran batsman recorded 100th first class century against Yorkshire in August and was awarded a special Centurions dinner by the Lord's Taverners.

Nine other batsmen who have also hit 100 first class hundreds attended to celebrate Ramprakash's achievements. These batsmen were Zaheer Abass, Dennis Amis, Geoff Boycott, John Edrich, Graham Gooch, Tom Graveney, Graeme Hick, Glenn Turner and Sir Vivian Richards.