Mark Vermeulen, the former Zimbabwe batsman, has been banned from English first-class and league cricket for 10 years for throwing a ball at spectators.
The 27-year-old, playing in a Central Lancashire League match for Werneth against Ashton on Sunday, had to be restrained by club officials before being led from the field of play.
Vermeulen, who played eight Tests and 32 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe, had been the subject of taunts while bowling a disappointing over.
He reacted by walking towards the boundary and hurling the ball in the direction of spectators. Luckily, the ball missed everybody and only hit the railings.
A Werneth member led Vermeulen back to the pavilion before his captain, Darren Shadford, conceded the match.
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Howard Donsfield, the League chairman and former Werneth chief, said: “I was at the game and hope I don’t ever see anything like it again, it was a sad sight for cricket.
“Discipline is a big issue for me at present and I’m determined to stamp anything like this out.
“It’s not just about spectators either - there was a 15-year-old boy among Vermeulen’s team-mates and it’s not the kind of example he should set.”