Lehmann suspended

ADELAIDE, Jan 18 AAP - Australian batsman Darren Lehmann was today suspended for five one day international matches for breaching the International Cricket Council's racial vilification code.

Lehmann was found guilty of a breach during a three hour hearing in Adelaide today.

Lehmann is the first international cricketer to be suspended for breaching the game's racial code of conduct.

Lehmann was to have been vice captain in the tomorrow's one day match against England at Adelaide Oval, but national selectors are believed to have summoned New South Wales batsman Michael Clarke as his replacement.

The South Australian and Yorkshire captain had already apologised for a racial slur after being dismissed against Sri Lanka in one day match in Brisbane on Wednesday.

He offered a verbal and written apologies to the Sri Lankans which were immediately accepted.

The Australian Cricket Board instructed Lehmann to also undergo counselling but did not impose a further penalty, prompting the ICC to charge the left-handed batsman under its racial vilification code.