Tom Curran has been suspended for four games after confronting a referee who asked him to stop running on the field. Before the match between Sydney Sixers and Hobart Hurricanes, Tom Curran was practicing his preparation on the field where the match was supposed to be played. According to the rules, no one other than the referees, coaches and the captain can be near the field of play before the start of the match.
Pre-practice is not allowed on the main field according to the rules of the game, but Tom Curran did it not just once but twice, confronting the referee on the second time. The referee clearly asked him not to run on the field, but he ran past the referee who was standing near the area so that Curran could not complete his run.
Tom Curran was suspended for four games for this stunt and was reprimanded by the BBL for his behavior towards the referee. The referee was heard saying, “You can run here but not here,” pointing to the side of the field. However, former Australian spinner Brad Hogg believes the umpire was also at fault as, instead of going to talk to Curran, he deliberately stopped at the crease to intimidate Curran into a confrontation.
Brad Hogg tweeted: “Not Tom’s brightest moment, but the referees were also to blame, instead of approaching Tom non-confrontational with a smile to calm the situation, he stood in an intimidating manner, appearing to seek a confrontation. “
See: Brad Hogg statement on Tom Curran hurling incident
It wasn’t Tom’s brightest moment, but the refs at fault, instead of approaching Tom non-confrontationally with a smile to defuse the situation, he stood in an intimidating manner, appearing to seek a confrontation. #BBL2023
– Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) December 22, 2023
Tom Curran was found guilty of intimidating a referee and was suspended for four games in the Big Bash League. The English all-rounder was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 1.50 crore in the IPL 2024 auction. Tom Curran was in good form with figures of 3/19 against Hobart Hurricanes. Brad Hogg has expressed his opinion on the matter saying that the ego was on both sides.
The referee was standing right in front of Tom Curran trying to act as a barrier to his run, but Tom Curran started his run and eventually went through the referee to complete his run. There was a clash of egos on both sides and Tom Curran was reprimanded for his trickery with the referee, trying to impede the field.
Sydney Sixers have won three out of three matches in the BBL so far and are currently second in the points table, just behind Brisbane Heat, who are ahead according to NRR. These incidents should not be encouraged and Tom Curran duly deserves the punishment he received. He has already faced one game and now he still has to face three games being thrown out of the game.