Mark Vermeulen Gets Ten Year Ban 14 Sep 2006 By: Martyn Corrin

Former Zimbabwe batsman Mark Vermeulen has receieved a ten year ban in England from First Class and League Cricket. The ban follows an on-pitch bust-up in the Central Lancashire League.

Vermeulen was playing as a professional for Werneth, against Ashton. He was allaged to have launched a ball into the crowd after being sledged for some poor bowling. One comment aimed at him was believed to be, "if you take your sunglasses off then maybe you'll be able to see where you're bowling." He was eventually restrained by team-mates and club officials, after picking up steel spikes, presumably with the intention of inflicting some real damage.

Vermeulen was never a stranger to controversy. He was sent home from a Zimbabwe tour of England in 2003 for refusing to travel with the rest of the squad, in spite of orders to the contrary. He has played eight tests and 27 ODIs.