Players banned for gambling breach

Cricket Australia has banned two players and slapped a suspended ban on a third for breaching its Anti-Corruption Code and betting on cricket.

South Australian Joel Logan, Victorian Hayley Jensen and Tasmanian Corinne Hall were all banned for two years as the governing body for the game in Australia continues its zero tolerance approach to players gambling on the sport.

Logan had his two-year ban fully suspended, while Jensen and Hall had 18 months of their sentences suspended, leaving them with six months on the sidelines, banned from participating in any form of cricket or cricket related event until October 21 this year, meaning they will miss the start of the Women's National Cricket League season.

Allrounder Jensen, who has played four ODIs and nine T20s for her native New Zealand, pleaded guilty to placing one bet on the result of the Commonwealth Bank Test in Brisbane between Australia and New Zealand last November, while Hall placed two bets during last year’s Matador BBQs One-Day Cup.

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Logan admitted to placing two bets on the ICC World Twenty20 in March, but as he was a Futures League Player contracted on a match-by-match basis, CA opted to wholly suspend his ban for two years, meaning the 21-year-old fast bowler is able to continue participating in Australian cricket subject to no further breaches of the Code.

The trio voluntarily accepted the sanctions and must undertake CA’s anti-corruption education or rehabilitation programs.

"We take a proactive, zero-tolerance approach to maintaining the integrity of our sport and this includes any form of betting on cricket globally,” Cricket Australia’s Head of Integrity Iain Roy said.

"Players in Australia are required to complete an anti-corruption education session before they can compete in any competition, including all players in our Underage National Championships.

"We continually remind players that betting on any form of cricket is strictly prohibited and this is written into our Anti-Corruption Code.

"These players have accepted the seriousness of their errors and have voluntarily accepted their sanctions. This serves as a timely reminder to all players in Cricket that the integrity of our game is a high priority and we won’t accept this being compromised."

Five players have now been charged in the last year, after ACT Meteors and Sydney Sixers player Angela Reakes was hit with a suspended 24-month ban for placing five bets worth $9 on the Cricket World Cup final, while Western Australia player Piepa Cleary was banned for six months for laying the bets on the third Test between Australia and New Zealand played under lights at the Adelaide Oval in November.