Cricketnext.com

London, Jun 27: England captain Paul Collingwood's decision to effect Grant Elliott's run-out won't haunt him for a long time after all. He has been banned for four One-day Internationals, but for a different reason altogether.

Collingwood's bowlers failed to complete 50 overs in the stipulated time in their defeat to New Zealand in the fourth One-dayer at The Oval, which was his second such offence inside 12 months, prompting match referee Javagal Srinath to ban the England skipper.

As a result, he will miss the final ODI against New Zealand, the Twenty20 International against South Africa on August 20 at Chester-le-Street, and two ODIs against Scotland and the Proteas.

Collingwood was initially charged with a Level 2 offence under the ICC Code of Conduct, but was raised to a Level 3 offence due to a repeat of the same offence within 12 months. He was fined 50 per cent of his match fee during the earlier instance, against India at Bristol on August 24 last year.

The regulations also state that players shall be docked five per cent of their match fees for every over short of the required mark, with the captain being fined double.

However, a player found guilty of a Level 2, 3 or 4 offence has a right of appeal.

The charge was laid by all four umpires – the on-field officials Steve Davis and Mark Benson, television umpire Richard Kettleborough and fourth official Peter Hartley.

All four umpires were present at the hearing on Wednesday night, along with the player, England team operations manager Phil Neale and coach Peter Moores.