Paul Cook: Ban has simply made me more determined

Paul Cook insists he is even more determined to succeed as Lincolnshire CCC skipper after seeing his suspension from the game slashed to four weeks.

As reported by the Echo last week, Cook had been suspended for 11 weeks by the Lincolnshire ECB Premier League.

He was said to have misled an appeal hearing over his availability to play for club side Bracebridge Heath after being handed a one-match suspension following an incident during a match against Woodhall Spa in July.

However, at a subsequent hearing on Monday night, an appeal panel reduced Cook's suspension to the first four weeks of next season, ruling him out of Lincs' first two one-day matches of 2010, against Norfolk and Suffolk.

The three-man panel, which included Notts Cricket Board chairman Richard Martin, reduced the ban and ruled that the Lincs ECB Premier League had not followed proper procedures in enforcing the suspension.

It has also emerged that Bracebridge have been issued a 40-point penalty suspended for two years.

However, the Echo understands the Cross O'Cliff Court club have not actually been found guilty of any offence.

"I'm happier it's been reduced to four weeks, but I'm not happy about it as I still think it (the ban) is a bit harsh," said Cook.

"I'm just looking forward to next season now. I'm not happy I'm going to be missing the first two games of the season as it will be my first season as captain.

"But this hasn't deterred me at all, it's made more determined to do well for Lincolnshire and show people what I can do."