Essex captain Foster hit with two-game ban

Essex captain James Foster received an immediate two-game ban from first-team fixtures after a spate of disciplinary offences at the club.

A cricket discipline commission panel took the extraordinary action Tuesday after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) brought charges against Essex relating to five or more separate incidents during the past 12 months -- all of which occurred while Foster was captain.

The ECB's disciplinary policy often results in players receiving penalty points for various offences, usually involving dissent towards officials.

However, the case of former England wicket-keeper Foster is believed to be the first time the panel has decided upon an immediate ban.

"We are disappointed that Essex had taken no prompt action following umpires' reports on misconduct of players," said a statement issued by the panel.

Essex last week reprimanded and fined Foster after he questioned the decision of an umpire during a Twenty20 match against Surrey.

But the panel statement said: "No management policy to safeguard against potential future incidents is in place.

"We feel the appropriate penalty is a fine of �5,000 ($8,037)."

As for the 31-year-old Foster, who won the last of his seven Test caps in 2002, the panel added: "The regulations make it absolutely clear that the captain is responsible for discipline on the field and ensuring no repetition occurs.

"We have taken into account the penalty imposed by Essex on the captain for his misconduct.

"But in our view the captain's responsibilities are great -- and we conclude that, taking all the mitigation into account, the correct penalty for the captain is an immediate two-match suspension from matches in Essex's first Xl programme.

"Essex are ordered to make a �300 contribution towards the costs of the hearing."