Village cricket match descends into violence when bowler is knocked out by batsman - but ends with handshakes and teas all round...before player is arrested

  • Amateur get-together ends with wicket brawl after sledging gets heated
  • One player has bat thrust into face, while bowler is punched unconscious
  • After bowler receives medical treatment both teams sit down for tea
  • Following traditional hot drinks the police arrive and arrest batsman on suspicion of actual bodily harm

In a photograph posted on his Twitter page, Mr Footner shows his bloody lip after being knocked out cold by an opposition batsman

In a photograph posted on his Twitter page, Mr Footner shows his bloody lip after being knocked out cold by an opposition batsman

A village cricket match had to be abandoned after one player was hit in the face with a bat and another knocked out cold when tempers flared when a player failed to catch a ball.

On-field banter between the frustrated batsman of the Swindon Civil Service Cricket Club and the bowler and wicket keeper for Beanacre & Melksham led to a full-scale brawl which left a club secretary unconscious.

Andrew Footner, of Beanacre & Melksham, was left needing treatment from paramedics after being floored by the single punch in the final over of Sunday's amateur clash.

However, after coming to he shook hands with the batsman who knocked him out - who blamed his violent response on 'a sh**ty couple of weeks'.

The 51-year-old accepted the man's apology and both clubs sat down for tea.

But a short time later, the police arrived and the 41-year-old was arrested.

Mr Footner, who was bowling when the incident happened, said: 'It's the first time I have ever seen a person punched on a cricket pitch in 40 years playing - and it had to be me.

'[It] started with usual verbals, my son got involved, I then bumped into him, my boy came rushing in [and] he pushed the bat into his face.

'I then wake up on the floor.'

According to Mr Footner, the fracas unfolded after 'banter' between two players - commonly known among cricketers as 'sledging' - escalated.

One of his players is said to have missed a potentially match-winning catch when the batsman shouted 'two' - and began running - while the ball he'd struck was airborne, distracting the fielder.

Jokingly, Mr Footner suggested to the match umpire that the loud shout was a form of obstruction - a comment the batsman didn't take too kindly.

A few balls later, the same batsman blocked the wicket keeper from running him out.

When the club secretary finally confronted the batsman, his son ran over from his fielding position to intervene.

The batsman then allegedly pushed the bat into his face causing a cut to his lip, before grabbing him by the throat.

Mr Footner was then punched in the face and knocked 'out cold for 30 seconds' according to eye witnesses.

One onlooker said: 'It was a handbags situation.

Mr Footner (back row, top right) was playing for Beanacre & Melksham Cricket Club (pictured), for whom he is club secretary

Mr Footner (back row, top right) was playing for Beanacre & Melksham Cricket Club (pictured), for whom he is club secretary

'It was general banter and a disagreement that got out of hand. One of the men had stupidly shoulder-barged into another and it got out of hand after that.

'There was a large group of men. One man was grabbed by the throat in the lead-up to the disagreement.

'There was a cricket bat in someone's face before that. Then there was a punch in the face. The man was out for 20 or 30 seconds.

'Never in 35 years of playing have I seen something like that happen before.'

After waking up and receiving medical attention, the player responsible for knocking Mr Footner out apologised, saying he'd had 'a really sh**ty couple of weeks'.

The captain of the Swindon Civil Service team, Martyn Spackman, insisted the two men resolved their differences shortly after the match had to be abandoned.

In 2013, England bowler Jimmy Anderson (right) said that sledging is a 'skill' that played a huge part in him becoming his country's all-time leading wicket taker. In this instance, I'd let to violence

In 2013, England bowler Jimmy Anderson (right) said that sledging is a 'skill' that played a huge part in him becoming his country's all-time leading wicket taker. In this instance, I'd let to violence

'After we had got the man medical attention, about 30 minutes after the incident the batsman went up and apologised,' he said.

'To my knowledge this was accepted and they sorted it out like gentlemen.'

'Everyone had tea together. Then the police arrived.'

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police, who attended the ground - NALGO cricket club in Penhill, Swindon - last Saturday just before 4pm, said: 'A 41-year-old male from Swindon was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm.

 After we had got the man medical attention, about 30 minutes after the incident the batsman went up and apologised.To my knowledge this was accepted and they sorted it out like gentlemen. Everyone had tea together. Then the police arrived.
Swindon Civil Service team captain Martyn Spackman

'He was taken to Gablecross, interviewed, and has been released on police bail while inquiries continue.'

A spokesman for the Wiltshire League, for which the match was being played, said: 'This matter is currently being investigated by the League's Disciplinary Panel.

'I am afraid that, until such time that this matter is resolved, I can make no further comment other than to confirm that, at this moment in time, the game is considered to be abandoned, with each side receiving eight points each.

'This, however, may well be amended once the disciplinary procedure has run its course.'

The match was abandoned and league officials are still deciding how the points will be split.

Mr Footner, who has recovered from being punched, added: 'I don't blame the club, always had good banter with them.'

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