Cricketers could be "sent off or banished to a sin-bin" for 10 overs this summer as lawmakers "try to address increasing levels of bad behaviour." The Marylebone Cricket Club is to launch a trial that will, in effect, bring red or yellow cards to club, university and schools cricket to "stamp out excessive sledging and curb the increase of violent behaviour." Five matches in England were abandoned last year due to violence and, after consulting umpire associations around the world, the MCC has "decided action needs to be taken to support officials by introducing a code of conduct with four levels of offences" (London TELEGRAPH, 2/9). ... The Essendon 34 will not seek an injunction before an appeal of their drug bans is heard, "but will seek a quick hearing, which could mean -- in the best case scenario and if the appeal is successful -- that the players could be playing again this season." The players will "explore all options for an extraordinary early hearing" after the players chose to appeal the finding of the Court of Arbitration for Sport decision against them and ban them until the end of the year. Lawyers for the players "will lodge the appeal with the Swiss Federal Tribunal on Wednesday night" (THE AGE, 2/10). ... Former Australian Football League side Essendon player Hal Hunter "plans to sue the club" over its controversial '12 supplements program. Barrister Professor Patrick Keyzer, representing Hunter, told the Supreme Court that a "statement of claim against Essendon would be filed in May." No decision had been made as to whether Hunter "would also sue the AFL" (THE AGE, 2/10).
