Fiery Andre Nel in hot water

2008-04-29 15:02

Cape Town - South African quickie Andre Nel, who is doing a stint in county cricket for Essex, is treading on thin ice after picking up six penalty points.

The accumulation of nine or more penalty points in any two-year period will result in an automatic suspension.

The guardian.co.uk on Tuesday reported that Nel had been given a six-point penalty by the England and Wales Cricket Board after incidents during last week's match against Derbyshire.

The ECB confirmed the South African was reported under their disciplinary code in the County Championship Second Division match in Derby.

Nel was reported by the umpires Tim Robinson and Richard Illingworth for two separate level-two breaches of the code, each of which attracts a penalty of three points.

The penalty points remain on Nel's record for a period of two years. The accumulation of nine or more penalty points in any two-year period will result in an automatic suspension.

A statement from the ECB on Monday said the 30-year-old has received the points for: "Using language or gesture that is obscene or of a serious insulting nature to another player, umpire, referee, team official or spectator" and "throwing the ball at or near a player, umpire or official in an inappropriate and dangerous manner."

Nel took three wickets for the match but Essex were beaten by four wickets after failing to defend 266 on the final day.

- News24