Banned Bailey's Bay duo consider appeal

Bailey’s Bay players Stephen Outerbridge and Corey Hill could appeal against lengthy bans imposed on them by the club.

Skipper Outerbridge — one of Bermuda’s top batsmen — has been ­suspended for 18 months, while Hill is out for a year.

A disciplinary committee imposed ­sanctions on the pair for speaking publicly about a row involving the Eastern Counties Cricket Association and St. David’s Cricket and County Club.

Outerbridge and Hill went before the committee last week to face charges of bringing the Sea Breeze Oval club into disrepute.

Both players have not ruled out appealing against their bans. Neither Outerbridge nor Hill would comment.

But Outerbridge denies “telling off” a disciplinary committee member during his hearing.

There are fears the pair’s hefty suspensions could trigger a player revolt, with some among the ranks “up in arms” over the ongoing saga.

The players made public remarks about a row that led to St. David’s boycotting this summer’s Eastern Counties contest.

Bay officials were quick to distance themselves from the pair’s personal views and issued a statement saying that “Outerbridge does not speak for Bailey’s Bay”. They also imposed a gag order ­preventing players from speaking to the media about the suspensions.

It is understood both players received written correspondence earlier this week informing them of their fate.

The bans could not have arrived at a worst time, with Bay within striking distance of their first Premier championship in nearly two decades.

They are due to face league leaders Southampton Rangers, who they trail by a sole point with two rounds of matches remaining in the 50 over campaign, at Sea Breeze Oval in a potential league decider on Sunday.

A Bay win would see the East Enders replace Rangers at the summit. But a Rangers victory would see Janeiro Tucker’s team clinch local cricket’s most revered showpiece with a game to spare.

Bay are also due to face either cup ­holders Cleveland County or Flatts in the final round of the Eastern Counties ­competition next month.

Leading Bay in Outerbridge’s absence is teenage opening batsman Terryn Fray.

Bay stalwart Irving Romaine believes his team can obtain a favourable result without key players Outerbridge and Hill.

He said: “We have enough players we can call upon to get the job done. We have the potential to do well in this league — do better against the bigger teams on a more consistent basis.”