Cricketer loses swearing ban appeal

The High Court hearing was held in Haverfordwest County Court

A record-breaking cricketer from south west Wales has lost his appeal against a ban for swearing - and his job on the same day.

Australian Mr Lovell, 32, admitted swearing and making offensive marks, but contested the 18-week ban on the grounds the original disciplinary hearing last September was not fairly held.

David Lovell hopes to play on Saturday

But Mr Justice Neuberger, sitting in Haverfordwest County Court, said Mr Lovell had not fully exhausted Pembroke County Cricket Club's (PCCC) appeals procedure.

Mr Lovell worked in the ITV Digital call centre in Pembroke Dock and the result of his hearing came at the same time as more than 1,000 redundancies were being announced at the centre.

Mr Justice Neuberger also ordered Mr Lovell to pay 70% of PCCC's costs, which could amount to several thousands of pounds.

The judge commented that, as a gesture of goodwill, PCCC should allow Mr Lovell to play until an appeal hearing was held.

John Green: waiting game

John Green, secretary of Lamphey CC said: "David is obviously shocked by the decision which has come on top of the news that he will be losing his job.

"We hope that PCCC will take the judge's comments into account and hear Dave's appeal.

"We will accept whatever the decision will be as full and binding.

"Both parties shook hands very amicably at the end of proceedings and we hope that we can all get on and just play cricket."

Solicitor Stephen Hill, representing PCCC, said: "The executive committee of PCCC feel vindicated."

Integrity

Lamphey are due to play Haverfordwest in the first game of the season on Saturday.

Former Derbyshire player David Lovell alleged his contribution to Lamphey Cricket Club's success had led to "resentment rather than admiration" from other clubs in the Pembroke cricket league.

The High Court, sitting at Haverfordwest, heard that umpire David Morris had been told "in no uncertain terms where to go" by Mr Lovell in a match against Kilgetty last August.

Pembroke County Cricket Club secretary William Marchant said the club had "integrity" and insisted the original hearing had been fair.

Wisden's 2001 records show Lovell's average of 199.6 runs per game last season was the highest of any cricketer in England and Wales.