FOUR YEARS ago, Ed Giddins was gracing the Lord’s turf, recording figures of five for 15 in the Test match against Zimbabwe, a performance that earned him the man of the match award. Yesterday, as England completed their victory over New Zealand at the same venue, the former seam bowler was banned from cricket for five years and fined £5,000 after being found guilty of placing a bet on a one-day match while with Surrey.

It is not clear, however, what powers the ECB has to enforce the fine on Giddins, who retired from first-class cricket last year because of injury. He had played only three times for Hampshire, his fourth county, whom he joined from Surrey for the 2003 season after previously playing for Sussex and Warwickshire. The ban, which encompasses all cricket under the ECB’s jurisdiction, prevents him from playing club cricket in the Kent League for Bromley, for whom he took six for 32 on Saturday.

Giddins, who was sacked by Sussex and banned for 18 months in 1996 after traces of cocaine were found in his blood, did not dispute putting £7,000 on Northamptonshire to beat Surrey in a Norwich Union League second division match in August 2002. Giddins did not play in the match in which Northamptonshire easily beat a Surrey team weakened by the absence of several first-choice players who were preparing for a C & G Trophy semi-final.