Lincs skipper Paul Cook set for appeal

Lincolnshire CCC captain Paul Cook will appeal against his 11-week ban at a hearing today.

The right-handed batsman will appeal against the suspension, handed out by the Lincolnshire ECB following a incident in Bracebridge Heath's match against Woodhall Spa in July.

As reported in the Echo last week, Cook was originally given a one-match ban for an incident immediately after being bizarrely given out for obstructing the field.

However, the longer punishment is believed to have been handed out following a subsequent alleged incident regarding when the ban was taken.

At today's appeal Cook's ban could be quashed, shortened or even extended.

And if the ban is upheld it could rule the batsman, who took over as Lincs captain after Oliver Burford stood down at the end of last season, out of Lincs' Minor Counties Trophy group matches in April and May and their Championship opener against Suffolk in June.

The ECB Premier League do not have the power to extend the ban to Minor Counties cricket but, if the ban is upheld, they will write to the Minor Counties Cricket Association who could decide to also impose the ban.