Cricket Board Bans Jason Anderson For Life

September 18, 2015

The Bermuda Cricket Board [BCB] has confirmed that following the altercation at the Champion of Champions cricket match, Jason Anderson has been given a “life ban from all cricket and any involvement in the game of cricket in Bermuda in any capacity.”

In addition, George O’Brien  has has been banned from all cricket for a period sufficient to include 6 Logic 50 over matches.

Mr Anderson, who was playing for Cleveland County Cricket Club, has already been handed a lifetime ban from the Club itself, with CCCC confirming yesterday that he is “banned from representing the club in all sporting activities for life.”

A statement from the BCB said, “Jason Anderson formerly of Cleveland County Cricket Club has been found guilty of a Level 4 2.4.2 of the Code of Conduct: Physical assault of another Player and has been given a life ban from all cricket and any involvement in the game of cricket in Bermuda in any capacity.

“George O’Brien of St. David’s County Cricket Club has been found guilty of a Level 3 2.3.2 of the Code of Conduct: Threat of assault on another player and has has been banned from all cricket for a period sufficient to include 6 Logic 50 over matches. Date to be confirmed at the start of the 2016 season.”

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Comments (41)

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  1. Whiteblack says:

    It is about time after years and years of the BCB and Bermuda cricketing fraternity ignoring the obvious rapid decline in playing standards and on and off field behavior by persons that silly administrators think we should be in awe of now it appears that someone somehow has decided to do the right thing ……… it is blessing I was caught on video and seen by all Bermudian raised the flags that should have been paid attention to long time ago …….. I would even venture to say that if it wasn’t caught on tape and posted by media outlets and received such outrage that nothing would have even come out of this as per normal regarding the BCB and clubs holding undesirable persons on a pedestal for many many many years……. don’t stop there you might as well clean house while you are at it

    • bermyguy says:

      what i dont get is why is everyone getting on o’brien for? he acted in self defense. yes he swung a bat but it was in his hands already and after he had walked away and anderson followed him what do you want him to do? stand there and let anderson hit him? im not for viloence but im for self defense and that is what o’brien did. DEFEND himself.

      if O’brien would have connected with anderson you can only blame anderson. only a fool would attack someone with a “weapon” and expect them not to use it.

      o’brien took the right steps to avoid any conflict by walking away and if the umpires and others around didnt stop anderson from running over and swinging at o’brien what is the next logical step, again to defend himself.

      • sage says:

        Watching the video I agree.

      • PBanks says:

        I think it’s just the very nature of swinging the bat, the bat pretty much becoming a weapon at this point, that’s what’s caused a bit more concern than if the player had dropped bat before retaliating.

        That may make the incident appear that much more dangerous (as well as even more inappropriate for children watching) and may thus have earned additional penalty than otherwise. Again, none of us have the match report or umpires’/players’ statements to go by, but it would make sense if that’s something that BCB took into account when levying that punishment.

        • bermyluv says:

          so he should drop the bat so the aggressor could pick it up?

          • PBanks says:

            Of course he shouldn’t drop it just to let the other guy pick it up.

            All that’s being said is that the act of swinging a bat at someone could be seen as a more dangerous act, even if it was only in retaliation from an attempted lunge/punch.

        • Build a Better Bermuda says:

          O’Brien didn’t retaliate, he defended himself from a direct assault. This was an assault, not some gentlemanly bout of fisticuffs… you think Anderson wanted shake hands, touch gloves, bow before attacking… I would have seen no fault with O’Brien clocking him with the bat as he was attacked, it’s called self defence.

      • serengeti says:

        Yeah, well, if that had connected with a head…. He could, quite literally, have killed someone.

        • Jamie Franscisco says:

          he is acting in self defense. he has done no wrong in this instance. the culpability is always on the initiator.

        • Build a Better Bermuda says:

          So you are saying that the batsman who was under threat of violence from the keeper, shouldn’t have been allowed to take any actions available to prevent an attack against his person? The first time O’Brien raised the bat was as a back the F off warning, and still Anderson came back when his guard was down again. If you are acting in self defence from an aggressive attacker, you respond to prevent that person from attacking you again… Great if you are highly trained in restraining techniques, but most people aren’t and unless you put that person out they are only going to come at you again, so you should be well within your right to protect yourself and make sure they can’t.

      • Confused says:

        Nobody is saying he shouldnt be able to defend himself but using a bat against someone without a weapon is never going to standup. Ifhe dropped the bat and defended himself with his hands then he could get off scott free as far as im concerned. If you wana say his punishment for swinging a bat is too harsh then maybe the same could be said for anderson who only punched and kicked someone.

        • Build a Better Bermuda says:

          As someone argued before, you going to drop the bat so that your attacker can then have a potential weapon to use against you??? No

          • Confused says:

            And the argument still has no substance. Youre still not going to get away with using a weapon. Hes lucky he only got 6 games

            • Build a Better Bermuda says:

              Lucky, I think it was fair, he was only trying to defend himself from an aggressive attacker. When you are being attacked by someone intent on causing you harm, you should be well within your rights to make sure that that person can no longer threaten you, the consequences of how they end up is entirely on them as they don’t have the right to attack you unless you are out to cause them harm, which the video clearly shows was not the case here.

            • PBanks says:

              Based on the wording of the Code of Conduct for such offences, I tend to agree.

            • Hollis says:

              I really what you would have done at the moment. Most of us humans would have reacted immediately and not
              Thought about it So be real. If someone out of the blue came and hit you tell me you just turn and walk away. Not real at all you would have reacted and thought about it later. Tell the truth!!!!!!!!!

  2. BIGGADON says:

    The Message has clearly been sent…well done BCB!

  3. Bermy Realist says:

    Very grateful to BCB and its no tolerance approach to this situation. I look forward to enjoying going out and enjoying cricket matches in Bermuda.

    Well done BCB and very much appreciated!

  4. Whiteblack says:

    Don’t get to excited about this because if the message was really being sent than a bunch of clubs would be receiving letters to give to certain players to inform them that their behavior on and off the field does not represent the standards of the organization and they will no longer be tolerated and that they are no longer welcome to pparticipate in any BCB sanctioned events …………The transgressors and their transgressions are many many many andthethe problem is not solved by this reaction to this one incident

  5. Navin Johnson says:

    Who got banned the batter or keeper…it should have been the keeper……..

    • Family Man says:

      And the kicker?

    • Computer Guy says:

      Batter was banned for 6 games, keeper is banned for life.

    • PBanks says:

      The keeper got banned. The -batsman- got suspended. Hope that helps.

    • Computer Guy says:

      Also the “kicker” was the keeper….but I find it highly disturbing the lack of self-control that you’re going to want to kick someone in the head in front of a bunch of people. Luckily his teammate was covering the batsman and unfortunately took the blow. Someone mentioned swinging the bat which is also extremely dangerous but the video clearly shows the batsman walking away from the situation, even initially holding back the first swing and holding his arms up to avoid fighting. Had the keeper not kept coming and started trying to punch him again, we wouldn’t have started swinging the bat. People can only be patient for so long though….after i try to walk away from the fight initially you better end it there. Don’t come back and attack me again and expect me to show the same restraint the next time.

  6. Coffee says:

    What ! For life ? What about baseball ? Can he still play baseball ?

    • Family Man says:

      Why don’t you go play with him Coffee. You seem to be at about the same level. You can even form your own club – the Ig-Grunts.

      • Coffee says:

        In your lame attempt at being relevant , I’d appreciate it if at least you place the question Mark after your ignorant question .

  7. Vote for Me says:

    Is there any hope for redemption?

    I do not support either club and do not know any of the players but given that they play regularly, I assume they have some skills and talent.

    What happens if Mr. Anderson decides in the next 10 years to become a properly qualified PE Teacher for example, having ‘realized the error of his ways’? Is there a subsequent process for his life ban to be reviewed?

    To be clear, the rise in violence in almost all sports over the past 15 years is reprehensible and I do not condone it in any fashion. My point is that punishment should have the end view of correcting bad behavior.

    • Build a Better Bermuda says:

      The BCB would have no say about him teaching cricket in a PE teacher role, this is a ban from any cricket that falls under the remit of the BCB. However, given what has taken place, it would be hard for him to find an organization willing to hire him on in a role of instructing youth in any sports.

    • Terry says:

      Well if he is rehabilitated then of course he could coach et al.

      But not play.

    • PBanks says:

      Maybe that’s something that gets addressed by the relevant organisation after a while – I believe Cleveland banned him from all sports activity, which would include coaching. He could in theory move to another club and be involved with sports (other than cricket). In any event that’s a matter for him and his club to discuss when the time is right.

  8. Huh says:

    Both of ‘em played Cup Match for St. Georges….

  9. Adrian says:

    It seems to me (from watching the video) that the batter was not in fear for his safety, had other people around and actually lunged past someone to take a swing…with a bat at the other dude’s head. I completely agree that at some point, you may have to use violence to protect or defend yourself…but that bat swinging was not self defense.

  10. stevie says:

    Its time our male sporstmen in soccer & cricket to grow up. Well done both the BCB & Cleveland Cricket to do the right thing in banning him for life. Will Anderso be charged for assault too? Bloody well hope so.

  11. Oh,I see now says:

    It’s about time someone show Anderson and those like him that tantrums like that will not be accepted and people will not continue to look the other way.If you think about it this is the best thing to happen to him it just may be his wake up call.

  12. ding a ling says:

    like a ban from non professional therefor no pay cricket is a penalty. as far as i am concerned that is useless. i’ll just go plays soccer and do the same? criminal case perhaps? for gods sake rugby is more disciplined than that display