LONDON, Sept 19: Former Zimbabwe batsman Mark Vermeulen on Tuesday had his ten-year suspension for throwing a cricket ball at spectators reduced. Vermeulen had been banned from all cricket in England and Wales for a decade but, after a disciplinary hearing of the Lancashire Cricket Board, the punishment was reduced to three years, part suspended for two years, beginning on April 1, 2007.

The 27-year-old, who has played in eight Tests and 32 One-day Internationals, was originally punished after an extraordinary incident during a Lancashire league match earlier this month.

Vermeulen had lost his temper after being hit for a six and a four while playing for Werneth Cricket Club against Ashton in a match near Manchester.

He became involved in a clash with spectators and hurled a ball towards the pavilion before ripping up a boundary marker to use as a weapon and then scuffling with a fan.

The Harare-born player has found himself in trouble with cricket authorities before after being sent home from Zimbabwe's tour of England in 2003 after leaving a match without permission.—AFP