Lincolnshire skipper Paul Cook hit by 11-week ban

Lincolnshire CCC face the prospect of being without new skipper Paul Cook for the first half of next year's Minor Counties campaign after the talented batsman was hit with a whopping 11-week ban.

The Bracebridge Heath right-hander will appeal against the suspension, handed out by the Lincolnshire ECB Premier League, at a hearing, due to be held on Monday.

The punishment relates to an incident which occurred during ECB League champions Bracebridge's clash with Woodhall Spa in July.

Cook was bizarrely given out for obstructing the field and was given a one-match ban for an incident immediately after his dismissal.

However, the Echo understands this latest, hefty punishment has been handed out following a subsequent alleged incident regarding when the ban was taken.

ECB Premier League secretary Ged McDougall declined to go into details about the reasons for the suspension until after next week's appeal.

However, he confirmed the ban could be quashed, shortened or even extended.

But if the current ban is upheld, it could rule the big-hitting batsman out of Lincs' Minor Counties Trophy group matches in April and May – and their Championship opener against Suffolk at Sleaford in June.

The ECB Premier League do not have the power to extend the ban to Minor Counties cricket, but McDougall added: "If the ban is upheld, we will be writing to the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board), the Minor Counties Cricket Association and Lincolnshire Cricket Club explaining the ban."

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