Enquiry into cricketer betting on a match

[Ian Hart]

The authorities won't name the player or the match. I'm not sure why. I've known who the player is (and the match) for a few weeks, so doubtless everyone else does too.

And as he's now retired, why the secrecy?

[Grim Reaper]

Originally posted by Ian Hart
The authorities won't name the player or the match. I'm not sure why. I've known who the player is (and the match) for a few weeks, so doubtless everyone else does too.

And as he's now retired, why the secrecy?

Do tell

[Dobbo]

The England and Wales Cricket Board said yesterday that it was investigating claims of illegal gambling by a cricketer who allegedly bet on the outcome of a county match.

Gerard Elias QC, chairman of the ECB's disciplinary committee, is investigating claims that the cricketer, thought to be the then Surrey bowler Ed Giddins, stood to win £7,000 after allegedly betting on the team to lose a Norwich Union League game against Northamptonshire in August 2002.

Giddins, a former England seam bowler, did not play in the match, which was won by Northants by 102 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method. Surrey fielded a weak team because most of their regulars were in Leeds preparing for a C&G Trophy semi-final against Yorkshire.

All English county players are required to sign an agreement not to bet on any match and if those regulations are broken offenders face a maximum five-year ban from playing or administration plus an unlimited fine.

Andrew Walpole, the ECB's media relations manager, said: "We're aware of the allegations concerning a player. The matter is being handled by Gerard Elias and he will consider what is the appropriate action to take."

Elias has not been given a deadline to report back and the inquiry will examine evidence from bookmakers and from the Surrey member who initially reported the alleged bet.

Giddins, who retired from county cricket at the end of last season, was unavailable for comment last night.

[Selhurst Guy]

Ed Giddins still plays for Hampshire dosen't he.

If this happened 3 years ago why is it only coming out now.

[Car54]

The Northants game concerned was the one played at Whitgift School, where David Ward came out of retirement to play. Just found the Surrey scorecard:

DM Ward c Cousins b Brown 78
SA Newman c Bailey b Penberthy 30
MA Carberry c Bailey b Brown 19
+JN Batty c Penberthy b Brown 3
JGE Benning b Cook 10
*IDK Salisbury b Cook 0
GP Butcher c Cousins b Swann 9
BJM Scott c Loye b Swann 4
PJ Sampson b Cook 1
DJ Miller b Swann 1
RM Amin n/o 0

I guess it's possible that someone somewhere may have known this likely line up before the bookies...

[Grim Reaper]

Originally posted by Selhurst Guy
Ed Giddins still plays for Hampshire dosen't he.

If this happened 3 years ago why is it only coming out now.

Aug 2002 + 3 years = Feb '04

[Ian Hart]

Originally posted by Grim Reaper
Do tell

Well, someone else has now!

As far as I'm aware, the bookies never paid out on the bet. They (allegedly) saw it was in the name of "Giddins", and said to themseleves "Aye-Aye. We smell a rat" as bookies are inclined to do. If that understanding is correct, it is indeed odd that it's taken until now to be investigated.

As Car54 says, anyone who knew what the Surrey line up was likely to be wasn't exactly applying rocket science in reasoning they were going to get a tonking.

[Hatch]

Giddins has retired through injury so it's difficult to see what punishment the authorities can now apply