Tom Curran: Sydney Sixers and England all-rounder banned for intimidating umpire

Curran joined the Sydney Sixers in 2018

England and Sydney Sixers all-rounder Tom Curran has been banned for four games in Australia’s Big Bash League after being found guilty of intimidating an umpire.

He was charged over an incident on 11 December before a game against Hobart Hurricanes in Launceston.

Cricket Australia found that Curran was involved in a disagreement with an umpire during the warm-up.

Curran, 28, and his club denied the offence and plan to appeal.

In the build-up to the match, the fourth umpire – who is tasked with supervising the pitch – asked Curran not to run on the pitch.

But Cricket Australia’s code of conduct commissioner Adrian Anderson found that Curran then “attempted to perform a practice run-up and run at pace straight towards the umpire, who stood in the bowling crease facing Curran. The umpire stepped to his right to avoid the risk of collision”.

The incident was deemed to be “intimidation or attempted intimidation of an umpire or match referee” under the Cricket Australia code.

According to the BBL’s rules, only the captain and team coach are permitted to walk on the pitch to assess its condition prior to the start of play, with spiked footwear also not allowed before the match.

Former Australia women’s captain and head of the Sixers Rachael Haynes said: “Tom and the club maintain that Tom did not knowingly or intentionally intimidate a match official and, on legal advice, we will exercise our right to appeal the decision.

“We will support Tom during this period and look forward to him returning to the field.”

The ban means Curran, who has not played for England since 2021, will miss the Sixers’ clash with Adelaide Strikers on Friday and will not be available until their match against Brisbane Heat on 3 January.