By Charles Randall

1 May 2015


Billy Godleman, the Derbyshire and former Brondesbury CC left-hander, has been suspended for two LV Championship matches for throwing the ball in an
“inappropriate and dangerous manner” while fielding in the recent four-dayer against Gloucestershire at Bristol.

The ECB cricket disciplinary panel confirmed an automatic suspension under the the totting-up directive, having handed out three penalty points in 2014 for Godleman's physical contact with a Leicestershire opponent. This time Godleman was reported by umpires Rob Bailey and Martin Saggers for a Level Two breach of the directives.

The unusual incident happened on the third day while Gloucestershire were batting. An attempt to steal a quick single to Godleman resulted in a throw that hit the batsman, Peter Handscomb. A confrontation and argument had to be defused by the umpires, and there was a further meeting between the player and the umpires after the day's play. In all cricket, players have to be aware of the danger posed by a flying ball, especially after the death of umpire Alcwyn Jenkins in a Welsh Premier League match in 2009.  

Godleman's ECB directive breach was for “throwing the ball at or near a player, umpire or official in an inappropriate and dangerous manner”. The incident earned him six points and the ban from all cricket until May 13. The penalty points to remain on a player's record for a period of two years.

In club cricket Godleman was a prodigy, the youngest batsman at 17 ever to earn a contract at Middlesex, and he represented England Under-19. He smashed a double hundred for Brondesbury in 2010 – still one of only four players to achieve this in the Middlesex County League - before moving on to Essex and Derbyshire.