‘Totally nuts’: Explosive video shows why BBL import was banned

There have been calls for a life ban after shocking footage emerged from the ugly act that got a BBL star suspended.

Ugly footage has emerged of the incident that got English import Tom Curran banned from the Big Bash.

The Sydney Sixers bowler was whacked with a four-game ban for allegedly intimidating an umpire, with the team already announcing its plans to appeal.

Cricket Australia announced in a statement that Curran was charged with a Level 3 offence under the Cricket Australia Code of Conduct for an incident during December 11’s clash against the Hobart Hurricanes.

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He was charged with “intimidation or attempted intimidation of an Umpire, Match Referee or Medical Personnel whether by language or conduct (including gestures)”.

While there was strong criticism against the heavy suspension that has dealt a huge blow to the Sixers’ campaign, vision emerged on Thursday night showing exactly why Curran has had the book thrown at him.

As first reported by foxsports.com.au, the vision shows Curran was told by an umpire not to run on the pitch during his pre-match warm-up and moved to stand in a position that showed where Curran was not allowed to run through.

“You can run here, not here,” the umpire told Curran.

The run-up that cost Tom Curran four games of the BBL season.

Curran then runs up and is about to crash into the umpire before stutter-stepping and moving to the side, as the umpire moved the other way.

“That is totally and utterly ridiculous,” Channel 7’s Jason Richardson said.

“He’s clearly had a brainfade there. You can’t intimidate an umpire like that.”

The footage has shocked many BBL commentators.

Aussie sport journalist Mark Gotlieb wrote on Twitter: “The Sydney Sixers have absolutely lost the plot appealing this. This is absolutely mental from Tom Curran.

“What on earth was he doing? We’ve seen some wacky stuff in the Big Bash but this might take the cake. Totally nuts.”

Veteran cricket stats guru Rick Eyre called Curran an “idiot”.

Other weigh in on social media, calling the act “utterly insane”.

Tom Curran cops four-game ban. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Leading cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan wrote: “This is the kind of behaviour you see occasionally from a senior player or a coach at lower levels of cricket when they come across a relatively new umpire who they think can be bullied. Poor, very poor.”

Cricket reporter Oliver Caffrey wrote: “Even club cricketers know you can’t run on the pitch like that, let alone intimidate an umpire in the process”.

Aussie sport journalist Roy Ward suggested Curran should never be allowed to return to the BBL.

“Every sport in this country is short of umpires and this fella decides to charge at an elite umpire...four matches is nothing.

“Send him on his way and never have him back again. The game goes on without Tom Curran but can’t go on without umpires.”

In a statement, Cricket Australia laid out the findings by Code of Conduct Commissioner Adrian Anderson - which Curran contested.

Curran will appeal the ban. (Photo by Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images)

“The Commissioner found:

“Prior to the commencement of the Match Curran completed a practice run up in which he ran onto part of the pitch;

“Curran was verbally instructed by the Umpire not to run on to the pitch;

“Following this, Curran moved to the opposite end of the pitch to complete another practice run up;

“The Umpire took position next to the stumps, blocking Curran from approaching the pitch and gestured to Curran to move away from the pitch;

“Curran was seen in the footage gesturing to the Umpire to move away from the pitch;

“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.”

However the Sixers and Curran will appeal the decision.

“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,” Head of Sydney Sixers Rachael Haynes said.

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

Originally published as ‘Totally nuts’: Explosive video shows why BBL import was banned