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Handscomb hit in county controversy

Young Australian struck by errant throw while batting for Leicestershire in England

Derbyshire’s Bill Godleman has been suspended for two matches for throwing a ball at Victoria and Gloucestershire batsman Peter Handscomb.

Godleman struck Handscomb attempting to return the ball to wicketkeeper Harvey Hosein on day three of the Division Two match at Bristol.

According to The Derby Telegraph, there was “a confrontation and a row which the umpires had to defuse” which was later reported by the standing officials.

Godleman was found guilty of ‘throwing the ball at or near a player, umpire or official’ and will miss Derbyshire’s next two matches.

It’s the second time in 12 months Godleman has recorded a level two breach of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s disciplinary regulations after he made physical contact with an opponent during a match against Leicestershire last September.

"The England and Wales Cricket Board's Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) today confirmed that Billy Godleman has received an automatic suspension under the ECB's directives,” an ECB statement said.

"During Derbyshire's LV= County Championship match against Gloucestershire between April 26 and 29, Godleman was reported by umpires Rob Bailey and Martin Saggers for a level two breach of the directives: throwing the ball at or near a player, umpire or official in an inappropriate and dangerous manner.

"Godleman had previously received three penalty points following a level two breach in September 2014. The penalty for a subsequent breach at level two within 24 months is six penalty points. Godleman has therefore received a total of nine penalty points, triggering an automatic suspension.

"He will be suspended from all cricket under the jurisdiction of the ECB until and including Wednesday, May 13 – a period which covers Derbyshire's next two first XI fixtures.

"These penalty points will remain on his record for a period of two years and the accumulation of nine, 18 or more penalty points in any two-year period will result in an automatic suspension."

Handscomb, a star on the rise for the Commonwealth Bank Victorian Bushrangers and Melbourne Stars, has made an inauspicious start this the county season, scoring 15, 25 not out, 17 and 14 in the first two matches of the season.

The 24-year-old announced himself to Australia last summer when he guided the Stars to an unlikely win with a magnificent unbeaten century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. 

Watch: Highlights of Handscomb's hundred