A young club cricketer feels he got a raw deal after being banned for four days for using a term made infamous by an international player who escaped a ban.
Promising all-rounder Ben McCord, 20, received the punishment for muttering the words "f****** monkey" under his breath after
bowling to Sri Lankan-born batsman Niranjan Nagelswaran during a match between Lancaster Park-Woolston and Marist in Christchurch.
The alleged use of the word "monkey", directed at Australian player Andrew Symonds, led to Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh initially being banned for three matches.
The ban was overturned last month on an appeal heard by New Zealand High Court judge John Hansen, after India's cricket bosses threatened to derail the test series with Australia.
During a Canterbury Cricket disciplinary hearing in Christchurch, McCord's supporters made reference to the events in Australia, but it failed to save him from a ban.
The only right of appeal they have now is to the High Court, at great cost.
McCord's mother Dale said her son was aggressive by nature on the field but had an otherwise unblemished record. His comment was not aimed at offending anyone, she said.
Nagelswaran, 19, told the Herald he did not hear McCord's comment at the time, and he harboured no grudge towards him.
"To be honest, I didn't really care much about it. He definitely didn't say it to hurt me or anything. He's mates with my mates ... and it's really turned into something it shouldn't have."
He had spoken to McCord and had received spoken and written apologies, which he accepted.
