WORCESTERSHIRE have been fined by the ECB cricket discipline commission for fielding an ineligible player in the Second XI Championship last season.

The New Road side have been ordered to pay £1,000 — £500 of which is suspended for 12 months — after Chris Thompson turned out for their second string while still registered to Surrey.

The unfortunate situation has irked chief executive Mark Newton as the club were informed by the player that he was free to play for them.

Leicestershire were hit with the same sanction after Thompson also turned out for their Second XI.

Newton said: “It has annoyed me intensely. It is frustrating but we have to go by the rules and still get fined even though we had been misled.

“The player, Chris Thompson, had told us and Leicestershire he had been de-registered by Surrey so he could play for us but, in fact, he hadn’t.

“It is something and nothing really — there was a technical breach of the rules and we have received a small reprimand.

“Ultimately, though, it is our responsibility but with Second XI cricket we get trialists in at the last minute all the time, especially to cover injuries and the like, and there is not always time to check everything that has been said to you.”

Worcestershire and Leicestershire have been deducted half the points gained in the matches Thompson appeared.

The commission emphasised the importance of counties thoroughly checking the eligibility status of cricketers before selecting them, especially in the light of previous similar cases.

They also noted the need for counties who release players to inform them fully of their continuing registration status and restrictions on their ability to play elsewhere.