Bermuda cricketer banned for life for brawl during match

Bermudian cricketer Jason Anderson was on Tuesday slapped with a life ban for his role in an ugly fight during a local match.

Anderson, representing the Cleveland County Cricket Club, incited a row with Willow Cuts Cricket Club's George O'Brien during the Champion of Champions final at the St. David's Cricket Club Ground 10 days ago.

Anderson, who has represented Bermuda 14 times, was wicketkeeping when he remonstrated with batsman O'Brien between overs. The pair was then involved in a tussle, with O'Brien swinging his bat in Anderson's direction before the two players wrestled each other to the ground, reported cricket.com.au.

Anderson then aimed a kick at O'Brien, although it appeared Anderson's teammate Aaron Adams - who had run in to separate the pair - copped the blow to the head. Players, officials and members of the Bermuda Police Service moved in to defuse the situation and Cleveland president Carlton Smith asked Anderson to leave the field.

The match eventually resumed, with Cleveland winning by 72 runs.

After reviewing the video evidence and reports from the match officials, the Bermuda Cricket Board found Anderson guilty of a Level 4 Code of Conduct breach; physical assault of another player. He was handed a life ban from any involvement in cricket in the country.

O'Brien, who has represented Bermuda 12 times, was charged with a Level 3 breach; threat of assault on another player. He was banned from all cricket "for a period sufficient to include 6 Logic 50-over matches."

Before the findings from the disciplinary hearing were announced, the Bermuda Cricket Board had said: "The BCB is gravely disappointed by the distasteful altercation during the Champion of Champions Final which marred an otherwise successful return to this historic competition."