Sussex’s troubled season has hit a new low after they were docked Championship points and saw FOUR players sidelined.

The county have been hit by a 12-point penalty after their at times bad-tempered win over Leicestershire last week.

What seemed to be one of the highlights of the season has quickly turned very sour.

Offences involving Tom Haines and Jack Carson have taken Sussex over a threshold for a points penalty.

Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace has withdrawn both players from the next match at Derbyshire, which starts tomorrow.

Skipper Cheteshwar Pujara has been banned for the same game, which ends his season with the county.

He was already due to miss the final fixture against Gloucestershire due to commitments in India.

Ari Karvelas has been made unavailable for selection by the club pending investigation into an incident.

 

It is understood Haines gave an opposing batsman a ‘send-off’ after dismissal, having been warned for similar earlier in the season.

Although Pujara did not commit an offence himself, he was captain on both occasions, leading to his ban.

Carson was ruled to have obstructed an opposing batsman during the Leicestershire game.

It was also fairly clear the umpires were unhappy with Sussex's general behaviour, including appeals and suggestions of dissent, during the match.

They were in anaimated conversation with Farbace within a few minutes of Sussex completing their win.

Sussex's previous offences came in their only other victory – at home to Durham.

Tom Alsop will captain the side at Derbyshire.

Carson and Haines have both apologised for their actions via the club website.

Farbrace said: “We have made Jack and Tom unavailable for selection for this game at Derbyshire.

“Following the umpires and match referee’s decision to charge both players with on field level one and level two offences, we needed to take a stance, and show them we will not condone such behaviours.

“Ultimately it has cost us the availability of Cheteshwar and we have been deducted 12 points.”

He added: “It is a great shame that these incidents have tarnished what was a fantastic game against Leicestershire, and all the hard work that has gone into the season.

“I am disappointed for our fantastic members and supporters and can assure them we will be working hard to make sure we are not in this position again.”

Ben Debenham and Paul Baldwin stood as umpires for the fixture while Wayne Noon was the match referee.

Sussex had previously been deducted four points for a slow over-rate in an early-season game against Yorkshire.