Ramprakash suspended for two matches

Mark Ramprakash has been suspended for Surrey's first two County Championship matches of the 2009 season, and fined £1500, after pleading guilty to using abusive language towards an umpire during Surrey's match against Sussex, at The Oval, on August 20.

The incident began with a heated confrontation between Ramprakash and Murray Goodwin, which required the umpires to step in. Ramprakash then swore at John Steele.

An ECB cricket discipline commission panel comprising David Gabbitass (chairman), Ricky Needham and Alistair Webster QC convened at Lord's on Monday to hear a charge brought by the ECB against Ramprakash.

The financial penalty is made up of a £1500 fine and he is also required to pay costs of £1000. In imposing the penalty, the panel took into account that Ramprakash was captain at the time of the incident, his previous good character, and the fact that he was contrite, had unreservedly apologised to the umpires and had already been fined £1000 by Surrey.