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The Sussex cricket team’s season has hit a rough patch as they are penalized with a 12-point deduction following their close win against Leicestershire. What was initially celebrated as a season highlight has now clouded the team’s performance with uncertainty.
This setback stemmed from breaches of disciplinary conduct involving Tom Haines and Jack Carson, which pushed Sussex beyond the threshold for a points deduction. Consequently, the team’s head coach, Paul Farbrace, has decided to sideline both players for the upcoming match against Derbyshire.
Compounding the team’s troubles, Cheteshwar Pujara, the skipper, has been suspended for the upcoming match, effectively marking the conclusion of his season with the county. The Indian batter has been automatically suspended because the club accumulated four fixed penalties in a single season. As a result, he won’t be able to participate in the upcoming game against Derbyshire, as reported by ESPN Cricinfo.
It’s worth noting that Pujara was already slated to be absent for the final game against Gloucestershire due to prior commitments in India.
Also READ: Chief selector Ajit Agarkar picks Team India’s ‘Trump Card’ for the ODI World Cup 2023
Four penalties in single season for Sussex
Sussex Cricket Club faced disciplinary action from the England Cricket Board (ECB) due to their repeated violations of professional conduct regulations, resulting in the imposition of four fixed penalties within a single season. The critical turning point occurred when Sussex incurred their fourth breach, automatically triggering a severe 12-point deduction. This significant deduction caused Sussex to tumble from their promising third-place position in the points table to a challenging fifth spot of the Division Two of the County Championship.
The timing of this deduction could not have been more unfortunate, as it occurred with just two games remaining in the season. This sudden shift in their ranking extinguished Sussex’s aspirations of securing promotion to Division One. The accumulation of two of these breaches transpired during a critical match against fellow promotion contenders, Leicestershire, held at Hove.
