Banned Bailey's Bay players to appeal suspensions

Bailey’s Bay players Stephen Outerbridge and Corey Hill have appealed 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.

After learning their fate, they submitted appeals. “They have put in their appeal but that is club business, which I really cannot go into,” said Bay coach Irving Romaine.

“It’s up to the club whatever happens from here and hopefully it works out for the best because they are two quality players.”

The pair missed Bay’s crunch match with Southampton Rangers at Sea Breeze Oval last weekend. The latter ­prevailed by 96 runs to clinch a first Premier 50 overs championship in four seasons.

Romaine reckons the ­suspension of key players Hill and Outerbridge took its toll on their teammates prior to and during last week’s league title decider.

Bowling

He said: “When you come into one of the biggest games of the season and you are dealing with suspensions it is always going to be a tall order.

“Stephen is one of the top batsmen on the island, while Corey was leading the bowling averages.”

Both players declined to comment but Outerbridge denies “telling off” a disciplinary committee member during his hearing.

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 “Outer-bridge does not speak for Bailey’s Bay”.

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